Department for Transport

Volkswagen

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Answer of  16 January 2019 to Question 207177 on Volkswagen: Exhaust Emissions, what investigations his Department conducted to determine that no wrongdoing has taken place within the UK.

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2019 to Question 207177 on Volkswagen: Exhaust Emissions, what recent discussions he has had with his German counterpart on criminal proceedings against executives of Volkswagen.

Jesse Norman: The relevant engines were designed, developed, manufactured and presented for type approval (either by the UK Vehicle Certification Agency or other EU type approval authorities) outside the UK. The Government has not aware of any evidence that representatives of VW UK were aware of the wrongdoing. Evidence on this matter is likely to flow, if at all, from the investigation now being undertaken in Germany. In these circumstances it would not be appropriate for the UK to carry out a separate parallel investigation, and there would be significant difficulties in obtaining evidence. However, the Government has reserved its position on this matter and continues to monitor the German investigation with interest. Given that the German investigation remains under way, the Secretary of State has had no further recent discussions with his German counterpart.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which local authorities have been required to sign non disclosure agreements with HS2 Ltd since 2010.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: HS2 Ltd’s records regarding non-disclosure agreements (or confidentiality agreements) date back to 2012. These agreements enable the sharing of confidential or commercially sensitive information with local authorities in connection with the delivery of HS2 and are entered into by mutual consent. Disclosure of these agreements is subject to obligations of confidentiality but, to the extent I can identify local authorities, the following have entered into such agreements: Solihull Metropolitan Borough CouncilWarwickshire County CouncilStaffordshire County CouncilLichfield District CouncilStafford Borough CouncilCheshire East CouncilShropshire CouncilBolsover District CouncilErewash Borough CouncilTrafford Borough CouncilCheshire East CouncilNottingham City CouncilNorth East Derbyshire District CouncilRushcliffe Borough CouncilNorth Yorkshire County CouncilDoncaster Borough CouncilRotherham Metropolitan Borough CouncilChesterfield Borough CouncilLeeds City CouncilCouncil of the City of WakefieldBarnsley Metropolitan Borough councilNorth West Leicestershire District CouncilNottinghamshire County CouncilCheshire West & Chester CouncilWarwickshire County CouncilTamworth Borough CouncilNewcastle Under Lyme Borough CouncilStoke City Council;Warrington Borough Council; andDerbyshire County Council

Euston Station: Closures

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish an estimate of the costs to the economy of the closures of Euston station due to High Speed Two preparations.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The Department does not hold any estimate of the cost to the economy of these planned engineering works. The implementation of the HS2 Phase One works have been designed to reduce as far as reasonably practical the disruption to rail services and passengers at Euston. Network Rail are planning to undertake some engineering works as part of the HS2 preparations that will require short closures of Euston Station. Where possible these short closures, which typically occur at weekends or bank holidays, are planned to coincide with wider Network Rail planned engineering works, for which the station would already need to be closed.

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency: Recruitment

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many applicants for jobs at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency who declared themselves as disabled applied under the guaranteed interview scheme in each year since the agency was established.

Jesse Norman: This information is not held centrally within the Department for Transport or the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.

Driving Tests

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the pass rate is for (a) car tests, (b) LGV tests and (c) motorcycle tests conducted by Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency delegated examiners.

Jesse Norman: Examiners with Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency delegated examiner status do not conduct car or motorcycle tests. The latest Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency published figures (April to September 2018) show a 79.8 per cent pass rate for large goods vehicle (LGV) tests carried out by delegated examiners.

A1 (M): Repairs and Maintenance

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans are in place to repair the potholes and poor road surface on the A1M northbound carriageway south of junction 7; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman: The A1(M) is inspected weekly and safety critical potholes and surface defects are repaired within 24 hours. Highways England have made safe 36 potholes on the northbound carriageway and larger patch repairs across 100 square metres of carriageway between junctions 6 and 7 since December 2018. They plan to carry out other surface repairs between junctions 6 and 7 before the end of March. Highways England have also recently completed road surface condition surveys of the A1(M) and other strategic roads in the region. These will be used to determine a prioritised programme of resurfacing work on the A1(M) and other roads over the next 3 years. In addition, construction of the A1(M) junctions 6 – 8 smart motorway starts in the next financial year. Construction will include resurfacing at various locations in both directions between junctions 6 and 8.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of HS2 funding (a) has been spent, (b) will be spent in the 2019-20 financial year and (c) will be spent after the end of the 2019-20 financial year in each (ii) nation and (ii) region of the UK.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: A total of £5.5 billion has been spent between financial years 2009/10 and 2017/18, covering both HS2 Ltd and Department for Transport expenditure. We are unable to report spend beyond the end of 2017/18 financial year until the HS2 Ltd and DfT annual accounts are published. This spend includes Land & Property and HS2 Ltd core programme group expenditure.Substantial construction spend will be seen across the whole of the UK. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority published a report in 2018* on UK transport investment allocated across regions, with analysis of where HS2 construction costs were expected to fall. The analysis takes a cost approach, apportioning spending according to the full length of route included in each region, and using industry benchmarks to weight the sections of route involving tunnels to reflect the increased cost of tunnelling.*https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/759222/CCS207_CCS1118987248-001_National_Infrastructure_and_Construction_Pipeline_2018_Accessible.pdf

Railways: Wales

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) total route length, (b) train stations, and (c) level crossings that are the responsibility of Network Rail Wales.

Andrew Jones: Network Rail’s 2019-2024 Strategic Business Plan for the Wales route states that it operates and maintains 1,487 track miles of railway in Wales and the Border counties of England. It also states that the route includes 1,150 level crossings. It gives a figure of 246 stations on the route, but these are not managed directly by Network Rail, and are instead the responsibility of train operating companies.

Euston Station and Old Oak Common Station

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish (a) the names of the companies that made successful bids to build (i) Old Oak Common station and (ii) Euston station, (b) the dates on which the contracts for that work are expected to be signed and (c) the scope of the works in those contracts.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: a. The names of the companies that made the successful bids are as follows: Euston: a Joint Venture between Mace Limited and Dragados S.A.; Old Oak Common: a Joint Venture between Balfour Beatty Group Ltd, VINCI Construction UK Ltd, VINCI Construction Grands Projets SAS and SYSTRA Ltd.b. The standstill period is due to conclude at 23:59 on 15th February. HS2 Ltd intends to sign the Construction Partner Contracts shortly thereafter.The role of the Construction Partner will be to work with HS2 Ltd and the station designers to procure, integrate and manage the supply chain for each of the station construction projects.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date he expects the main contractors building High Speed Two Phase 1 to commence their work.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: Stage 1 of the main civil works contracts were awarded in July 2017 and contractors commenced design and development work then. Stage 2 of the contracts will commence when Government authorises Notice to Proceed later in 2019 and contractors will begin civil construction activities.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the names of contractors and companies that have been paid more than £500,000 for work in connection with High Speed Two and the (a) amounts paid to and (b) works carried out by each of those contractors and companies since 1 January 2017.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: This information is regularly published on the gov.uk website at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dft-departmental-spending-over-25000, which currently shows spending of over £25,000 up to and including July 2018.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Renewable Energy

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of electricity used in England and Wales was derived from renewable energy sources in (a) 2017 and (b) 2018.

Claire Perry: Electricity consumed in England and Wales may have been generated in other parts of the UK or imported from Europe via interconnector. At a sub-national level, BEIS cannot separately identify the original fuel for electricity consumed; however, in terms of electricity generated: (a) In 2017, 29.3 per cent of electricity generated in the UK came from renewable sources. 26.0 per cent of electricity generated in England and Wales came from renewable sources, this was a record.(b) Almost a third of electricity generated in 2018 quarter 3 came from renewable sources, the highest figure on record. Full figures for 2018 are not yet available. Provisional 2018 figures for renewable generation in England and Wales will be published on Thursday March 28th at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-trends-section-6-renewables Source: Electricity generation and supply figures for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England, 2004 to 2017

Fossil Fuels: North West

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the present stage is of Petroleum Oil and Gas Licence 193 within his Department's regulatory roadmap for onshore oil and gas exploration.

Claire Perry: The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) are responsible for granting and monitoring all onshore Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences (PEDLs). For PEDL193, the OGA last year agreed to a Retention Area Work Plan under which the licensee(s) are obliged to acquire new seismic data by 30 June 2020, submit a planning application to drill a well by 30 June 2022, and drill, hydraulically fracture and flow test a well by 30 June 2024. Details of this licence variation can be found on the OGA website via the following link: https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/media/5260/retention-areas-agreed-december-2018-updated.pdf

Fossil Fuels: Licensing

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the present stage is of all the Petroleum Oil and Gas Licence areas within his Department's regulatory roadmap for onshore oil and gas exploration.

Claire Perry: The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) are responsible for granting and monitoring all onshore Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences (PEDLs). Information regarding PEDL data is publicly available and can be found on the OGA’s site via https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/data-centre/data-downloads-and-publications/licence-data/. In addition to this information, the OGA agreed last year to a number of Retention Area Work Plans - these licence variations can be found on the OGA website via the following link: https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/media/5260/retention-areas-agreed-december-2018-updated.pdf.

Renewable Energy: Carbon Emissions

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to increase the production of energy from low-carbon renewable sources.

Claire Perry: In 2017, 10.2 per cent of total energy consumption came from renewable sources; up from 9.2 per cent in 2016 (source: DUKES 2018) and 3.8% in 2010 (source: DUKES 6.7 – 2018). In our most recent Contracts for Difference auction we secured over 3GW of renewable electricity from as little as £57.50/MWh. The Government has made available up to £557m for future Contracts for Difference, with the next auction planned for May this year. The Government is also supporting the decarbonisation of heat and is supporting renewable and low-carbon heating technologies through the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (RHI), which encourages the uptake of renewable heat technologies amongst householders, communities and businesses through financial incentives, with £4.5bn allocated for renewable and low carbon heating between 2016 and 2021.

Tidal Power: Swansea Bay

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to his oral contribution of 17 January 2019, Official Report, column 1346, what the evidential basis was for his statement that the costs of the proposed Swansea Tidal Lagoon project were three times that of Hinkley Point C.

Claire Perry: Alongside the statement which my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy made to the House on Monday 25th June 2018, a summary value for money assessment on the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project and the programme of lagoons proposed by Tidal Lagoon Power Ltd and an accompanying factsheet were published. These set out the evidence base and calculations. They can be read at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/swansea-bay-tidal-lagoon-value-for-money-assessment

Tidal Power

Dr Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to his oral contribution of 17 January 2019, Official Report, column 1346, what the evidential basis is for the statement that a full programme of tidal lagoons would make a tiny contribution to the UK's energy supply at a much greater cost than nuclear generation.

Claire Perry: Alongside the statement which my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy made to the House on Monday 25th June 2018, a summary value for money assessment on the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project and the programme of lagoons proposed by Tidal Lagoon Power Ltd and an accompanying factsheet were published. These set out the evidence base and calculations. They can be read at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/swansea-bay-tidal-lagoon-value-for-money-assessment

Solar Power: Competition

Sir Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the competitiveness of solar power.

Claire Perry: Solar is a UK success story. Since 2010, solar capacity deployed has accounted for 81% of total capacity deployed under the Feed-in Tariffs scheme. Cost reductions have now enabled developers of large-scale solar PV to bring forward projects without Government subsidy, with two such sites having already deployed. On 8 January, Government published a consultation on the future for small-scale low-carbon generation. This can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-future-for-small-scale-low-carbon-generation.

Ofgem

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the efficacy of the energy regulator.

Claire Perry: The Department maintains a strong working relationship with Ofgem, working closely across a wide range of policy areas. I regularly meet with Ofgem to discuss strategic priorities, while the Department engages directly with the UK Regulators Network, where Ofgem and regulators across sectors share best practice.

Lord Deben

Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has received any assurances from the Chair of the Climate Change Committee on potential conflicts of interests arising from his involvement with Sancroft International.

Claire Perry: The Chair of the Committee on Climate Change declared his interests with Sancroft International as part of his appointment process in 2012.We have received assurances from the Chief Executive of the Committee on Climate Change on their processes for managing potential conflicts of interests. These include a clear policy on conflicts of interests, publication of members’ interests, and actively inviting information on actual or perceived conflicts as the first agenda item at each Committee meeting.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Brexit

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many officials from his Department have been seconded from their primary role to make preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Harrington: BEIS has established a mobilisation plan that ensures all EU Exit work, including the possibility of no deal, receives the right level of staffing. Redeployment is underway and as of 30th January, C. 350 staff had been mobilised from their primary roles to support EU Exit work.

Nissan: Government Assistance

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his Oral Statement of 31 October 2016 Nissan: Sunderland, whether the award of £61 million to Nissan in June 2018 detailed in his letter to the BEIS Select Committee of 4 February 2019 was scrutinised by the Industrial Development Advisory Board and reported to Parliament.

Richard Harrington: I can confirm that the application by Nissan for £61m of support was scrutinised by the Industrial Development Advisory Board. The role of the board under the Industrial Development Act 1982 is to advise my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State and make independent recommendations. Only if the Secretary of State wished to act contrary to the board’s recommendation (which was not the case with the Nissan award), he shall (if the Board requests) lay a statement before Parliament. There is no obligation to do so when he acts in accordance with their recommendation.

Public Houses: Codes of Practice

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will commission a review of the Pubs Code.

Kelly Tolhurst: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Public Houses: Closures

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will review trends in the level of pub closures in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) Midlothian.

Kelly Tolhurst: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Public Houses: Closures

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to implement a pubs strategy to tackle the closure of pubs.

Kelly Tolhurst: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Algeria: Undocumented Migrants

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Algerian counterpart on illegal immigration from that country to the UK.

Alistair Burt: I chaired the UK/Algeria Strategic Security Partnership meeting in July 2018 during which migration was discussed.

Persian Gulf: Shipping

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his (a) US and (b) Saudi Arabian counterparts on the effect of Iranian activity on the accessibility to shipping of the Persian Gulf.

Alistair Burt: ​The UK regularly speaks to the US about Iran at official and ministerial level, most recently during the Foreign Secretary's visit to Washington last month. We regularly discuss Iran with Saudi Arabia at ministerial and official level, most recently this month. The UK remains concerned by Iran's destabilising activity throughout the region and we continue to maintain a permanent military presence in the Gulf to underpin our enduring contribution to regional security. The deployment of UK maritime assets in the Gulf protects shipping lanes which are important for the world's energy supply.

Tunisia: Tourism

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has had recent discussions with the Government of Tunisia on encouraging increased UK tourism to that country.

Alistair Burt: ​We recognise the significance of tourism to the Tunisian economy, and the importance of security in enabling tourism.We are helping the Tunisian Government to build their capacity to deal with security challenges – our support has more than doubled since 2014/15, and this coming financial year will exceed £12 million. 120,000 UK tourists visited Tunisia in 2018 - up from 25,000 in 2017.

Turkey: Economic Situation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Government of Turkey on the strength of its (a) economy and (b) currency.

Sir Alan Duncan: We have regular discussions with the Turkish government and the Central Bank of Turkey over economic and monetary issues as part of our normal day-to- day diplomatic engagement.

Egypt: Human Rights

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Egypt on the maintenance of human rights in Egypt.

Alistair Burt: Egypt is a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Priority Country and the UK continues to urge the Egyptian Government to ensure full implementation of the rights and freedoms set out in Egypt's Constitution. We regularly raise concerns about human rights with the Egyptian Government both in public and in private. I raised our human rights concerns with the Egyptian Foreign Minister during my visit to Cairo on 14 October 2018.

UK Relations with EU

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans his Department has for future cooperation and collaboration on security and defence policy with the EU27 nations in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Sir Alan Duncan: Delivering the deal negotiated with the EU remains the Government's top priority. This has not changed. As set out in the Political Declaration on the future relationship between the UK and EU, the Government has offered to cooperate closely on defence and security as part of an ambitious Security Partnership. This would be on a case-by-case basis, where of mutual benefit.While our focus remains on securing agreement with the EU, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, like the rest of Government, is also preparing for "No Deal". In a No Deal scenario, the UK would have to withdraw from Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations - both military and civilian - and withdraw associated personnel seconded to the EU institutions. The UK would continue to act through other multilateral fora, including through the UN and NATO, and the UK’s cooperation and collaboration on security and defence with individual EU Member States will continue.

UK Relations with EU

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps is his Department taking to maintain capacity for effective diplomatic relations with EU27 countries after the UK leaves the EU.

Sir Alan Duncan: Maintaining relations with the EU and bilaterally with EU Member States when we leave is a priority. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) network of Posts are the Government's primary tool to influence and engage EU Member States and will play a key role in our future relations with Europe. Staffing levels are kept under constant review to help deliver the Government's objectives and ensure the FCO is adequately resourced. This includes ongoing planning to deploy additional resource across the UK Representation to the EU, the 27 EU Posts and within the UK.

Commonwealth: Malaria

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will use the UK's period of time as Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth to ensure that progress is made on the commitment agreed to at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018 to halve incidences of  malaria by 2023.

Alistair Burt: At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April 2018, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK's commitment to fight malaria. She restated our five-year pledge, made in 2016, to spend half a billion pounds a year tackling this disease. We are fulfilling that pledge and, as Chair-in-Office, continue to work with Commonwealth countries and members of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership to achieve the commitment of Commonwealth Heads of Government to halve the incidence of malaria in the Commonwealth by 2023. UK ministers will attend events in the coming months to highlight and accelerate progress towards that goal.

Ahmed Aliouat

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterpart in the Moroccan Government on the detention of Ahmed Aliouat.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of the case of Ahmed Aliouat but have not raised it specifically with the Moroccan Government. We regularly discuss a wide range of issues, including human rights, with the Moroccan authorities, and will raise individual cases where there are grounds to do so.

Arms Trade: Imports

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Government plans to report on imports of conventional arms under the Arms Trade Treaty.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts from signatories of the Arms Trade Treaty on improving mechanisms for gathering data on arms imports; and if he will make a statement.

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government remains committed to annual reporting obligations for imports of conventional arms under the Arms Trade Treaty.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK is committed to its obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The Treaty encourages States to record imports, but does not create an obligation to do so. Therefore we do not consider that there is an obligation subsequently to report on imports. We regularly review our approach and do not plan changes at this time. We regularly discuss reporting with other ATT signatories at official level, most recently at the ATT Working Groups in late January.

Colombia: Terrorism

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with international partners on the recent incidents of terrorism in Colombia.

Sir Alan Duncan: The UK swiftly condemned last month's car bomb attack in Bogotá and offered condolences to the families of the victims, including through a UK-drafted statement by the Security Council. In the week following the attack, the UK used its position as pen-holder at the UN on the Colombian peace process to draft another Security Council statement reiterating our condemnation of terrorist violence and reiterating the Security Council's full support for implementation of the FARC Peace Agreement. Karen Pierce, the UK's Permanent Representative to the UN, met Colombian Foreign Minister Holmes Trujillo to pledge our continued support for the FARC Peace Agreement and to discuss the way forward regarding the National Liberation Army (ELN) in the wake of the 17 January attack.I have met Mr Holmes Trujillo twice over the past two weeks: first in New York on 26 January at the UN Security Council, then in Ottawa on 4 February for a Lima Group meeting. On both occasions, I took the opportunity to offer our unwavering support to the Colombian authorities as they seek to ensure sustainable peace in Colombia.

Iraq: Minority Groups

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions has he had with the Iraqi Government on the effect of its new education curriculum on practising religious minorities in that country.

Alistair Burt: The UK is committed to supporting the Government of Iraq as it completes formalisation of the Cabinet and we look forward to the announcement of a Minister for High Education. I recently visited Iraq and met with representatives from the Iraqi Government including the Prime Minister; Adil Abdul Mehdi and President Barham Salih where I reinforced the importance of reintegration of minority communities to ensure stabilisation.Our Ambassador in Iraq, Jon Wilks, met with a representative from the Iraqi Government recently where discussion centred on Iraq's plans and priorities for Education, and future arrangements where the British and Iraqi Higher Education Institutions might work together. The British Council EC Schools Capacity Building Project in Primary and Secondary Education has developed a Human Rights curriculum, with the Ministry of Education, which they are hoping to pilot in Baghdad, Erbil, Basra, Anbar and other provinces.I am aware that recently the Kurdistan Regional Government began discussions on teaching the history of all religions and we welcome these discussions.

Morocco: Freedom of Expression

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Government of Morrocco on respect for fundamental freedoms including religious expression and association in that country.

Alistair Burt: The Moroccan Constitution contains provisions that guarantee freedom of thought, expression, and assembly. We discuss human rights with the Moroccan authorities and raise concerns where appropriate. We have not made specific representations to the Moroccan Government relating to religious expression and association.

South Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which parties were signatories to the current peace deal in South Sudan; and which parties refused to sign it.

Harriett Baldwin: The Revitalised Agreement of the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) was signed on 12 September 2018. The Parties listed in R-ARCSS are: the Transitional Government of National Unity of the Republic of South Sudan; the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition; the South Sudan Opposition Alliance; former detainees; and a range of other smaller political parties. A diverse range of stakeholders from civil society and the region, including representatives from the church, business, and women's groups, also signed. The agreement can be found on the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission website. The most significant party to the conflict which did not sign R-ARCSS is the National Salvation Front (known as NAS) led by General Thomas Cirillo.

Malaysia: Swimming

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions has he had with his Malaysian counterpart on the ban on Israeli athletes competing in Paralympics qualifying events in that country.

Mark Field: We do not agree with Malaysian government's position on the banning of Israeli athletes from competing at the World Para Swimming Championships. It is fundamentally wrong. We consider it right that the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has decided to strip Malaysia of the right to host the tournament. The Championships must be open to all eligible athletes and nations to compete safely and free from discrimination.I raised our deep concerns with the Malaysian Minister for Education, Dr Maszlee bin Malik on the 22 January, as did our High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur with Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah on the same day. We are following up on the matter with the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will continue to monitor developments in order to speak out against discrimination of any kind and to ensure the ideals of the Olympic movement are upheld.

Intelligence Services: Detainees

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many times Government ministers (a) sought and (b) were granted authorisation under the Consolidated Guidance between 2015 and 2017.

Sir Alan Duncan: The Government has made it clear that Ministers must be consulted whenever UK intelligence and security personnel involved in an operation believe that a detainee is at serious risk of mistreatment by a foreign state. The Consolidated Guidance sets out the principles, consistent with UK domestic law and international law obligations, which govern the interviewing of detainees overseas and the passing and receipt of intelligence relating to detainees. The guidance is used by and must be adhered to by officers of the UK’s intelligence and security agencies, members of the UK’s armed forces and employees of the Ministry of Defence. The Investigatory Powers Commissioner, Lord Justice Fulford, has oversight of compliance of the Consolidated Guidance.

USA: Nuclear Weapons

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the US withdrawal from the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, whether US intermediate-range nuclear weapons be accepted for deployment within UK land borders.

Sir Alan Duncan: There has been no request from the US to deploy new missiles to Europe. As NATO made clear in a recent statement on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, NATO continues to review closely the security implications of Russian intermediate-range missiles and will continue to take steps necessary to ensure the credibility and effectiveness of the Alliance's overall deterrence and defence posture. Allies will continue to consult each other regularly with a view to ensuring our collective security.

Venezuela: Politics and Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the UK Government's official recognition of Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela, what steps the UK Government is taking to support the promotion of peace in that country.

Sir Alan Duncan: We are working closely with EU partners, regional organisations such as the Lima Group and like-minded international partners to ensure a peaceful resolution to the current crisis and a return to democracy. We urge all Venezuelans to recognise Juan Guaido as the constitutional interim President of Venezuela until new presidential elections that are free and in accordance with international democratic standards are held.

Bangladesh: Elections

Sir David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the findings of the Human Rights Watch December 2018 report Bangladesh Election Crackdown on Political Opponents and Critics and the Transparency International Bangladesh January 2019 Review of Election Process of 11th National Election, what steps the Government is taking to help tackle electoral fraud in Bangladesh.

Mark Field: The Bangladesh general election on 30 December 2018 was subject to numerous allegations of irregularities and voter intimidation. I released a statement on 1 January deploring the violence that had taken place and expressing the UK's deep concern regarding the conduct of the election. I called for a full, credible and transparent resolution of all complaints related to the conduct of the elections and repeated this message to the Bangladesh High Commissioner when we met on 10 January.I wrote to my counterpart the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, in January, to express UK concerns regarding the conduct of the election and on democratic trajectory in Bangladesh. The Foreign Secretary wrote to Foreign Minister Momen to deliver similar messages. The UK will continue to engage the Government of Bangladesh at all levels to address our concerns regarding democracy in Bangladesh.Bangladesh remains a Human Rights Priority Country for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and freedom of expression is a key concern. I raised my concerns regarding freedom of expression with Bangladesh State Minister of Information Tarana Halim on 14 December 2018. The Foreign Secretary raised his freedom of expression concerns with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 24 September 2018 at UN General Assembly in New York.

Sri Lanka: Human Rights

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of progress on Sri Lankan adherence to measures outlined in (a) Resolution 30/1 of the 30th Session of the UNHRC in 2015 and (b) Resolution 34/1 of the 34th Session of the UNHRC in 2017; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart on the human rights of the Tamil community in that country.

Mark Field: The UK continues to encourage and support Sri Lanka to deliver the commitments it made to the UN Human Rights Council through Resolutions 30/1 and 34/1. We firmly believe that this is the best framework for establishing truth and to achieve justice and lasting reconciliation.The UK welcomed the Annual Report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on 21 March 2018, which assessed progress made by the Sri Lankan government in the implementation of UN Human Rights Council Resolutions 30/1 and 34/1. This found that the Government of Sri Lanka had taken some steps to address human rights concerns and to introduce more democratic and accountable government. These steps included the return of some military-held civilian land, the establishment of an Office of Missing Persons and the ratification of the Convention on Enforced Disappearances.However, as I made clear to Foreign Minister Marapana on my visit to Colombo in October 2018, more needs to be done. During my visit, I encouraged greater progress, in particular on national accountability and truth-seeking mechanisms, and the development of new counter-terrorism legislation in line with international human rights standards. I was pleased to see that, following my visit, the Sri Lankan Parliament had passed a bill to establish an Office of Reparations. I look forward to seeing this implemented in the near future.I continued to press for progress with Sri Lankan Speaker Karu Jayasuriya in January, as the Minister for the Commonwealth and the UN, Lord Ahmad, did with Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera,

North Korea: Human Rights

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in North Korea; and what representations he has made and to whom on that subject.

Mark Field: The UK continues to have grave concerns over the human rights situation in North Korea. The Foreign Secretary made clear his strong concerns about freedoms in North Korea at the launch of the review into the Persecution of Christians across the Globe, on 30 January. The British Government raises its concerns over the human rights situation directly with the North Korean authorities and in multilateral fora including the UN Security Council, General Assembly and Human Rights Council. We urge North Korea to use its upcoming Universal Periodic Review in May as a moment to engage in meaningful dialogue on its human rights record.

Sri Lanka: Capital Punishment

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart on the Government of Sri Lanka's decision to end its moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

Mark Field: The British government calls on all countries – including Sri Lanka – to abolish the death penalty. Although the death penalty has not been carried out in Sri Lanka since 1976, capital punishment remains legal and the death sentence continues to be handed down for crimes including murder, drug trafficking and rape. There have been occasional calls for these sentences to be carried out but it has become established practice for them to be commuted to life imprisonment. i.e. de facto moratorium.Sri Lanka has been a consistent supporter of UN General Assembly resolutions calling for a worldwide suspension of executions since the first such resolution was proposed in 2007. Our High Commission in Colombo joined the EU delegation in lobbying senior officials in the Sri Lankan Ministry of External Relations to maintain this position in the December 2018 UN vote, supporting a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. In January 2019, after further reporting of the intention to restart the death penalty, our High Commission in Colombo raised the issue with senior officials in the Sri Lankan government.The Government of Sri Lanka is well aware of the UK and EU position on the death penalty and we hope the moratorium will be sustained.

Afghanistan: Peace Negotiations

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of progress towards a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan since recent talks in Moscow and Doha between different stakeholders from that country; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Field: We welcome the progress made by the US Special Representative for Afghan Reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, towards revitalising a peace process in Afghanistan. His wide-ranging engagement is important in supporting and facilitating an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process.We welcome regional initiatives designed to support this aim, if coordinated with the Afghan government. Recent talks in Moscow did not include representatives of that government.The UK believes that only a political solution can achieve lasting stability in Afghanistan. The UK will continue to provide support to Ambassador Khalilzad and the Afghan government in their efforts.The British Government continues to urge the Taliban to take advantage of the current opportunity for peace, and to begin a genuine intra-Afghan dialogue by engaging with the elected government of Afghanistan.

Yemen: Journalism

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussion he has had with his Saudi and Emirate counterparts on allowing journalists access to the north of Yemen; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Our concerns about freedom of the press are well known by the Saudi and Emirati authorities. We consistently underline the importance of respect for freedom of speech and of the press.

Attorney General

Brexit

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Attorney General, if he will place in the Library his advice on the legal implications of any changes made to the Withdrawal Agreement text between the UK and the EU ahead of the forthcoming vote on that Agreement.

Mr Geoffrey Cox: The Government understands the legitimate desire of Parliament to understand the legal implications of the Withdrawal Agreement and will look at what assistance it can provide the House. The Government has already published a collection of material to support public and parliamentary assessment of the deal. In addition, on 14 January, I agreed to the Government publishing a letter from me to the Prime Minister about the exchange of letters between the Prime Minister and the Presidents of the European Council and Commission.

Department of Health and Social Care

NHS: Members' Constituency Work

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will issue instruction to NHS England that signed authority from a patient is not required for the NHS to progress an inquiry from an hon. Member pursuing a case on behalf of a constituent; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which Ministers were consulted by NHS England before they advised health bodies to request a signed authority from an honourable Member acting on behalf of a constituent; and for what reason that policy on this matter has been changed.

Caroline Dinenage: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 21 January 2019.The correct answer should have been:

There has been no change in policy with regards to obtaining consent of a patient for the purposes of an inquiry or investigation and therefore Ministers have not been consulted. If a National Health Service body is to disclose patient information held by it in order to progress an inquiry from a hon. Member on behalf of a constituent, there are circumstances in which the body may provide patient information to a Member of Parliament without the Member evidencing the explicit consent of the patient, so long as that information is provided in accordance with the requirements set out in paragraph 24 of Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 2018it must obtain the consent of the patient before doing so. An inquiry or an investigation will almost certainly require the disclosure by the NHS body of information relating to the constituent as patient. The NHS body must be content that there is a legal basis under the General Data Protection Regulation/Data Protection Act for processing patient information (i.e. disclosing and sharing it for the purposes of the investigation). This is easier to satisfy if it is clear the patient has consented to the hon. Member making investigations on their behalf.

Caroline Dinenage: There has been no change in policy with regards to obtaining consent of a patient for the purposes of an inquiry or investigation and therefore Ministers have not been consulted. If a National Health Service body is to disclose patient information held by it in order to progress an inquiry from a hon. Member on behalf of a constituent, there are circumstances in which the body may provide patient information to a Member of Parliament without the Member evidencing the explicit consent of the patient, so long as that information is provided in accordance with the requirements set out in paragraph 24 of Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 2018it must obtain the consent of the patient before doing so. An inquiry or an investigation will almost certainly require the disclosure by the NHS body of information relating to the constituent as patient. The NHS body must be content that there is a legal basis under the General Data Protection Regulation/Data Protection Act for processing patient information (i.e. disclosing and sharing it for the purposes of the investigation). This is easier to satisfy if it is clear the patient has consented to the hon. Member making investigations on their behalf.

Sleep: Young People

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Journal of Adolescent Health's editorial article, The Role of Sleep on the Pathway to Substance Abuse in Teens, published in February 2017, if his Department will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the findings that sleep disorders precede and are predictive of future adolescent substance abuse.

Steve Brine: The Government has no current plans to carry out such an assessment. The National Institute for Health Research is funding research projects that examine drug and alcohol use in young adults and teenagers but none of these are looking at the relationship with sleep disorders.

Cannabis: Abuse

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the British Medical Journal's article, Assessment and management of cannabis use disorders in primary care, published on 1 April 2010, if his Department will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the findings on cannabis use disorder referenced in that article.

Steve Brine: The change to the law to allow access to cannabis-based products for medicinal use does not change existing rules and policies on recreational use and misuse of cannabis. The Government has no plans to legalise cannabis and the penalties for unauthorised supply and possession remain unchanged. Access to medicinal cannabis is strictly controlled. It must be prescribed by, or under the direction of, a specialist doctor on the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council. The specialist must consider all licensed medicines before prescribing any unlicensed cannabis-based medicine and such a prescription must be in the patient’s best interest, taking into consideration the evidence of benefit and potential for harm to that particular patient.

Pain

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his policy is on the provision on the NHS of spinal implants for pain relief.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides guidance on ‘Spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain of neuropathic or ischaemic origin’. NICE is currently developing guidance on the assessment and management of chronic pain, with an expected publication date of 19 August 2020. Further information can be found via the following links: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta159 www.nice.org.uk/guidance/gid-ng10069/documents/final-scope As with the majority of NHS services, local commissioners are responsible for provision of treatment and support for patients with chronic pain conditions. Patients with chronic pain can be well managed in the community or local hospitals by appropriately trained members of interdisciplinary Pain Management Services. Patients may be treated in a Specialised Pain Management Centre where appropriate. When considering what services should be made available we would expect clinical commissioning groups to consider the best practice available guidance.

Hospitals: Admissions

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information he holds on the number of people admitted to hospital as a result of the heatwave during summer 2018.

Steve Brine: Information on the number of patients admitted by National Health Service hospitals for heat-related illnesses is not available for the summer of 2018. Public Health England published weekly surveillance data highlighting the number of patients visiting general practitioners, emergency departments and contacting NHS 111 during 2018. This is available online at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/syndromic-surveillance-weekly-summaries-for-2018

Arthritis

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been living with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: No specific estimate has been made.

Multiple Births: Infant Mortality

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to prevent deaths in twin babies.

Jackie Doyle-Price: In 2017, the Department funded the Twins and Multiple Births Association (TAMBA) Maternity Engagement Project. TAMBA’s work has contributed to findings in the recent MBRRACE-UK Perinatal Mortality Surveillance Report, released last year, showing the stillbirth rate for United Kingdom twins almost halving between 2014-16, a fall of 44%. In addition, neonatal deaths among UK twins has dropped 30%. To reduce variance in the levels of maternity care across trusts, all maternity services now have one obstetrician, one midwife and one board level Maternity Safety Champion jointly responsible for championing maternity safety, spreading learning and encouraging best practice within their organisations. This includes adherence to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on issues such as antenatal care for multiple pregnancies. Every maternity service in the National Health Service is actively implementing elements of the Saving Babies’ Lives Care Bundle, which is designed to tackle stillbirth and early neonatal death. The Care Bundle is undergoing review by an expert oversight group, who are currently reviewing how new Care Bundle elements can contribute to improving outcomes for twin and multiple pregnancies. The NHS Long Term Plan highlights our aim of rolling out the Care Bundle across every maternity unit in England in 2019. The Maternity Transformation Programme is addressing safety in maternity services, including reducing inequalities in outcomes regarding twin and multiple births through various channels. The programme is supporting Local Maternity Systems to implement best practice care by working with the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, which has developed the Perinatal Mortality Review Tool to support standardised perinatal mortality reviews across NHS maternity and neonatal units in England, Scotland and Wales. All trusts in England are now using the tool to identify the factors associated with stillbirth and neonatal death, including within multiple pregnancies.

Cancer: Surgery

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the rate of post-operative infection in cancer patients.

Steve Brine: Public Health England (PHE) runs a surgical site infections (SSI) surveillance service in 13 categories of surgical procedures but is only mandatory in four categories of orthopaedics procedures and voluntary surveillance in the rest. The aim of the national surveillance program is to enhance the quality of patient care by encouraging hospitals to use data obtained from surveillance to compare their rates of SSI over time and against a national benchmark, and to use this information to review and guide clinical practice. PHE’s most recent report is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/surgical-site-infections-ssi-surveillance-nhs-hospitals-in-england

Alzheimer's Disease

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representations he has received on the correlation between sugar intake and Alzheimer's.

Steve Brine: Public Health England has not received any representations on the correlation between sugar intake and Alzheimer’s disease.

Diabetes

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support people in preventing glucose spikes in their blood sugar.

Steve Brine: NHS England has advised that ‘glucose spikes’ may refer to glycaemic variability - the short term (within hours or days) or long term (over months or years) variation in glucose levels. A number of actions that have been undertaken by NHS England, alongside future actions outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan, have the potential to address glycaemic variability:- Improved access to structured education. In line with existing National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, structured education should be offered to all patients within 12 months of diagnosis of diabetes. NHS England has invested £10.5 million this year to improve attendance at structured education by people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes;- Equitable and increased access to flash glucose monitoring in people with type 1 diabetes;- Access to continuous glucose monitoring for pregnant women with type 1 diabetes; and- Low calorie diets as a means of achieving remission of type 2 diabetes in those with recent onset.

Antidepressants: Children

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to ensure a reduction in the overall amount of anti-depressants prescribed for children; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: The Department expects clinicians to prescribe anti-depressants for children responsibly and in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. The NICE guidelines for ‘Depression in children and young people: identification and management’ sets out clear guidance on the identification and management of depression in children and young people aged between five and 18 years. Based on the stepped care model, the guidance makes clear the need for treatment to be based on the individual needs of children and young people, the characteristics of their depression and their personal and social circumstances. Through this it supports healthcare professionals, children, young people and their parent(s)/carer(s) in identifying and accessing the most effective interventions. Further information can be found at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg28 This is consistent with the needs-led approach set out in Future in Mind, the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health and the recently published NHS Long Term Plan.

Israel: Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that advances in medicines by Israel are shared with the UK.

Steve Brine: Work with Israel on medicines is led by the British Embassy in Tel Aviv, which actively seeks opportunities to create United Kingdom-Israel partnerships in the medical field. An example of collaboration on medicines is BIRAX – a bilateral research fund active since 2015 with £10 million in mainly private funding for academic partnerships between the UK and Israel. The first three years focussed on regenerative medicine; the next stage is ageing with projects to be announced in the next few months. More broadly, the Embassy is working on other initiatives to foster UK-Israeli collaboration on health. For example, the UK Israel Tech Hub helps to create tech and innovation partnerships across several sectors, including healthcare.

Pregnancy: Smoking

Sir Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to allocate funding to (a) local authorities and (b) clinical commissioning groups to achieve the national target of reducing the number of smokers during pregnancy to six per cent by 2022; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: Local authorities, as part of their local public health duties provide smoking cessation services for pregnant women. To complement the role of public health, the National Health Service through the Maternity Transformation Programme is supporting the education of pregnant women on the dangers of smoking and offering support to quit. The NHS Long Term Plan strengthens further the government commitment to reducing smoking in pregnancy, committing to the introduction of a smoke-free pregnancy pathway for all expectant mothers and their partners. The NHS budget will increase by £33.9 billion in cash terms (the equivalent of £20.5 billion in real terms) by 2023/24.

Brineura

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care,  if he will hold meetings with families of children with ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 disease on the availability of Brineura on the NHS.

Steve Brine: The Department has no plans currently. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently developing guidance on Brineura (Cerliponase alfa) for treating neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 under the highly specialised technology programme. Further information can be found at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-hst10008

Medical Treatments

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the timeframe is for NICE to publish its review of the Highly Specialised Technologies process.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will begin reviewing the process and methods for the Highly Specialised Technology Evaluation Programme in 2019/20 with the anticipation that the publication will be achieved by the end of the 2020 calendar year.

Incinerators: Health Hazards

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1 February 2019 to Question 212586 on Incinerators: Health Hazards, will he will publish the (a) reports and (b) evidence considered by Public Health England.

Steve Brine: The Public Health England (PHE) position statement published in 2009 outlines the basis of the conclusion that well run and regulated municipal waste incinerators are not a significant risk to public health. The evidence reviewed is outlined in the reference section of the position statement. PHE’s position statement is available to view at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/municipal-waste-incinerator-emissions-to-air-impact-on-health

Incinerators: Health Hazards

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 1 February 2018 to Question 212589 on Incinerators: Health Hazards, which reports provided via the url link in that Answer reference PM0.1 and PM1 emissions from incinerators.

Steve Brine: None of these assessments focus specifically on particulate matter emissions from incinerators. Public Health England’s (PHE’s) position is that well run and regulated modern municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) are not a significant risk to public health. This view is based on detailed assessments of the effects of air pollutants on health and the fact that modern and well managed MWIs make only a very small contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants. PHE will review its advice in light of new substantial research on the health effects of MWIs published in peer reviewed journals. To date, PHE is not aware of any evidence that requires a change in its position statement.

Air Pollution: Health Hazards

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report entitled, Statement on the evidence for differential health effects of particulate matter according to source or component, published by COMEAP in March 2015, if he will direct (a) Public Health England and (b) COMEAP to commission research into the levels of toxicity of particulate matter from different sources.

Steve Brine: Public Health England (PHE) and the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants keeps their advice under review in light of new substantial research on the health effects of incinerators and other particulate emitting processes published in peer review journals, which can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/comeap-reports To date, PHE is not aware of any evidence that requires a change in its position statement.

Incinerators: Health Hazards

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policys of the results of the study entitled Characterisation of elemental in PM2.5 in a medium sized Swedish city dominated by a modern waste incinerator plant, published in X-Ray Spectrometry in 2006.

Steve Brine: Assessments of the risks of pollutants to health are informed by the weight of the available evidence, rather than being undertaken on the basis of an individual study. Public Health England’s (PHE’s) position is that well run and regulated modern municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) are not a significant risk to public health. This view is based on detailed assessments of the effects of air pollutants on health and the fact that modern and well managed MWIs make only a very small contribution to local concentrations of air pollutants. PHE will review its advice in light of new substantial research on the health effects of MWIs published in peer reviewed journals. To date, PHE is not aware of any evidence that requires a change in its position statement.

Incinerators: Health Hazards

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2019 to Question 212303 on Air Pollution: Research, what proportion of the £1billion will be allocated to research into the health effects of ultrafine particles from incinerators.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department is investing over £1 billion a year in health research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). It is not usual practice for the NIHR to ring-fence a proportion of its budget for research into particular topics or conditions. The NIHR will consider funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including the effect of ultrafine particles. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Autism: Care Homes

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much the NHS spent on private contractors for residential care for patients with a diagnosis of autism in (a) 2016-17 and (b) 2017-18.

Caroline Dinenage: The information requested is not held centrally.

Concussion

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on patient health of regular instances of concussion.

Steve Brine: Repeated concussions or blows to the head have been linked to serious problems, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a type of dementia and is particularly associated with contact sports, such as boxing or American football. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides the guidance on ‘head injury: assessment and early management’, last updated in June 2017. This provides information on minor brain injuries (concussion), as well and the early management of head injuries and information for the public. Advice and further information on concussion and CTE can be found via the NICE and NHS websites at the following links: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg176 www.nhs.uk/conditions/concussion/ www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy/

Postnatal Depression

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support is provided to women who suffer from postnatal depression.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Government is committed to improving both the detection and treatment of perinatal mental illness. In May 2018, NHS England confirmed that new mothers will be able to access specialist perinatal mental health community services in every part of the country by April 2019. In 2010, more than 40% of localities provided no service at all. In early December 2018, NHS England estimated that these services treated 9,000 women in 2018. We are investing £365 million from 2015/16 to 2020/21 in perinatal mental health services to ensure that by 2020/21 at least 30,000 more women each year are able to access evidence-based specialist mental health care during the perinatal period. This investment is designed to improve access to specialist perinatal mental health services across England, resulting in better outcomes for women and their families. In addition, the NHS Long Term Plan, published in January 2019, includes a commitment for a further 24,000 women to be able to access specialist perinatal mental health care by 2023/24, building on the additional 30,000 women who will access these services each year by 2020/21 under pre-existing plans. Specialist care will also be available from preconception to 24 months after birth, which will provide an extra year of support.

Pharmacy

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of enabling pharmacists to issue low-strength prescription drugs to reduce the workload for GPs.

Steve Brine: The Department has made no assessment of the merits of enabling pharmacists to issue ‘low-strength’ prescription drugs to reduce the workload for general practitioners.

Antibiotics

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking reduce the use of antibiotics by people that have (a) a cold and (b) influenza.

Steve Brine: Public Health England (PHE) has developed a number of initiatives to educate and remind the public that antibiotics cannot be used to treat viral infections such as the common cold and influenza. To protect vulnerable members of the population, PHE has a seasonal influenza vaccination programme for those aged over 65, all children aged two to nine years, pregnant women and those in certain clinical risk groups. PHE launched the ‘Keep Antibiotics Working’ national campaign in October 2017 to highlight the risks of antibiotic resistance to the general public, with the aim of reducing patient pressure on general practitioners to prescribe antibiotics. The multi-media campaign, which features advertising on television, radio, outdoor, digital, social media, public relations and extensive partnership support, ran for a second year in 2018. Details of the campaign can be viewed at the following link: https://antibioticguardian.com/keep-antibiotics-working/ The e-Bug programme, now in its tenth year, aims to educate children, young people and communities about microbes, hygiene, infections and antibiotics. Further information on the e-Bug programme is available at the following link: www.e-Bug.eu

Autism

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure compliance with the recommendation made by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in 2017 that GP practices improve recording of autism; whether a register of people with a diagnosis of autism has been implemented; what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of health inequality for autistic people; and if he will make a statement.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The NHS Long Term Plan was published on 7 January 2019 and commits the National Health Service to including a ‘digital flag’ in the patient record by 2023/24, which will ensure staff know a patient has a learning disability or autism. In addition, NHS staff will receive information and training on supporting people with a learning disability and/ or autism. Sustainability and transformation partnerships and integrated care systems will be expected to make sure all local healthcare providers are making reasonable adjustments to support people with a learning disability or autism. NHS England will also pilot the introduction of a specific health check for people with autism, and if successful, extend it more widely. On 5 December 2018, the Department announced that we will be launching a comprehensive review of ‘Think Autism’, the national autism strategy, this is to ensure it remains fit for purpose. We want an autism strategy that works for all autistic people, and that is why, working very closely with the Department for Education, we will be extending the strategy to include children.

Alcoholic Drinks: Labelling

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure alcohol product labels warn consumers of the health risks of alcohol.

Steve Brine: In March 2017, the Department issued guidance to the public and industry setting out how the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines can best be communicated on the labels of alcoholic drinks to the public. The Department agreed a transitional period with industry until 1 September 2019 to reflect the new guidelines. We are starting to see products with labels that reflect the new guidelines and the Department will continue to work with industry to implement the guidance.

NHS: Working Hours

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to support the Fight Fatigue campaign which aims to raise awareness of the effect of fatigue and shift working on the NHS workforce.

Stephen Hammond: The Department welcomes campaigns that highlight issues of staff fatigue and shift working in the National Health Service. The Department continues to commission NHS Employers to provide resources, materials and good practice for the NHS including the importance of sleep. NHS Employers are currently in the process of updating and restructuring their best practice webpages and will be signposting the Fight Fatigue Campaign on their website1. Note:1https://www.nhsemployers.org/blog/2018/10/the-importance-of-sleep

NHS: Working Hours

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many hospitals in England have rest facilities for staff working night shifts; and whether those facilities are available (a) before, (b) during and (c) after those shifts.

Stephen Hammond: Data on the number of hospitals in England that have rest facilities is not collected centrally. For medical and non-medical staff, the provision of rest facilities is a local matter. However, it is vital that employers deliver on their responsibility to provide support and opportunities for staff to maintain their health, wellbeing and safety as required under health and safety. We recognise the importance of improving the working environment of doctors and dentists in training. We have made £10 million available for trusts to be spent by their Guardians of Safe Working, in agreement with doctors locally, to improve working conditions.

Stamaril

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make representations to Sanofi Pasteur on undertaking new research into the risks of adverse events, including psychosis, from using the vaccine Stamaril.

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what representations he has made to Sanofi Pasteur on ensuring that new technology is developed to eliminate the risks of adverse events, including psychosis, from the use of the vaccine Stamaril.

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including psychosis in the list of potential side effects published on the use of Stamaril as a vaccine for yellow fever.

Jackie Doyle-Price: As with all vaccines and medicines, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) closely monitors the safety of Stamaril yellow fever vaccine. The MHRA takes advice from the Government's independent scientific advisory body, the Commission on Human Medicines, when evaluating the risks and benefits of medicines and vaccines. The Marketing Authorisation Holder for Stamaril, Sanofi Pasteur, has statutory obligations to continuously monitor the safety, and balance of benefits and risks, of the vaccine. The potential risks of Stamaril are described in the prescribing information, the Summary of Product Characteristics, and the information for vaccine recipients, the Patient Information Leaflet. A recognised, very rare risk of Stamaril vaccine is Yellow Fever Vaccine-Associated Neurotropic Disease, known as YEL-AND. Whilst the symptoms of YEL-AND can include confusion and acute focal neurological deficits (e.g. affecting motor co-ordination), this is not typically associated with psychosis or other long-term psychiatric disorders. Further to other recent reports of serious suspected adverse reactions in United Kingdom travellers, the MHRA is in the process of further reviewing the balance of benefits and risks of Yellow Fever vaccine, which will include an analysis of neuropsychiatric events.

Stamaril

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commission research into new vaccines for yellow fever in the event that Sanofi Pasteur does not undertake research into its yellow fever vaccine.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including the development of cheaper vaccines. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. In all disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity. The NIHR and the Medical Research Council both have a wide portfolio of research activity in vaccines which cover clinical trials for new vaccines, new technologies, ways of improving uptake and cost effectiveness.

Yellow Fever: Vaccination

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits on including yellow fever in the list of vaccines under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act 1979 for which compensation may be paid.

Steve Brine: The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) is not a compensation scheme. There is no assessment of what losses were actually suffered. It provides a one off tax-free lump sum payment, currently £120,000, to successful claimants and is one part of the wide range of support and help available to severely disabled people in the United Kingdom. The VDPS is primarily designed to cover adverse reactions for vaccination in the child immunisation programme which is a Government initiative to protect the community from infectious disease and does not include travel vaccines. The Scheme is being kept under review if further inclusions are thought necessary.

Vaccination: Compensation

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of changing the provisions of the Vaccine Damage Payment compensation scheme so that people who suffer a psychiatric injury as a result of an adverse event involving a vaccine can also be fairly compensated for the effects of (a) loss of earnings, (b) the stigma of mental illness and (c) incarceration.

Steve Brine: The Department for Work and Pensions administers the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) on our behalf. The VDPS is not a compensation scheme. There is no assessment of what losses were actually suffered. It provides a one off tax-free lump sum payment, currently £120,000, to successful claimants and is one part of the wide range of support and help available to severely disabled people in the United Kingdom. This Scheme is not designed as an alternative to litigation and does not prejudice the right of the injured person to pursue a claim against the manufacturer of the vaccine for compensation. To qualify for a VDPS payment, the applicant has to meet two legal tests:- establishing, on a balance of probabilities, that the disablement was caused by a vaccination covered by the VDPS; and- the resulting disablement is severe disablement (60% or more), assessed on the same basis as for the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Scheme. Disablement is the overall effect of the disability arising from a loss of faculty caused by the vaccine. It is an assessment of the effects of the medical condition, not an assessment of the condition itself. The effects may be physical or mental or both. The level of disablement is made by comparison of the disabled person to a person of the same age and sex whose physical and mental condition is normal.

Stamaril

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information he holds on research into safer alternatives to the Stamaril vaccine; and if the Government will provide funding for such research.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Medical Research Council has an active study to assess the safety and immunogenicity of yellow fever vaccine dose sparing strategies for campaign and programmatic use. The study seeks to determine whether using a fractional dose of the normal yellow fever vaccine in infants provides sufficient protection against yellow fever compared with the normal dose of vaccine and whether altering the route of administration affects vaccine safety.

Drugs: Side Effects

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of the regulatory regime in ensuring that drug companies continuously take steps to minimise the risks from their products.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Holders of marketing authorisations are responsible for on-going monitoring of the safety of the medicinal products they place on the market. Additionally, the safety profile of all medicinal products is continually reviewed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to determine whether there are new risks, if risks have changed, and if any additional risk minimising measures or other regulatory action is required. Since 2012 it has been a legal requirement for both marketing authorisation holders and medicines regulators to monitor the effectiveness of all such risk minimising measures to determine whether they have had the desired effect. Depending on the findings, further action to minimise risk may be taken. Recent reviews of the impact of regulatory interventions have been conducted by the MHRA and across the European regulatory network, and further evaluation of the effectiveness of the regulatory regimen in the European Union is ongoing.

Veterans: Mental Health

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) regular (b) reserve ex servicemen were classified with mental health problems by ICD code in each year since 2000.

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many ex servicemen were recorded as having mental health problems in each Service by ICD code in each year since 2000.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Mental Health Services Data Set does not capture this information. Therefore, the attached data is from the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) dataset only. IAPT is run by the National Health Service in England and offers National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-approved therapies for treating people with anxiety and depression. Data about the IAPT programme is available from April 2012 and it is therefore not possible to provide data for years prior to this. The IAPT dataset records whether a referral is for a patient who has been a member of the British Armed Forces (BAF). It is not possible to identify the type of Armed Forces Service that the patient belonged to, or whether the patient was a regular or reserve veteran. The number of referrals for ex-BAF personnel that have been received, entered treatment and finished a course of treatment for all years up to 2017-18, grouped by the type of diagnosis problem, submitted as an ICD-10 code, are displayed in the attached tables. NHS Digital does not hold any further information about ex-BAF personnel with mental health problems. Some relevant data is also available from the Ministry of Defence website, at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-mental-health-annual-statistics-financial-year-201718



PQ216222,216221 attached data
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HIV Infection

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the press release entitled Health Secretary announces goal to end HIV transmissions by 2030, published in January 2019, who the members of the expert group will be; when that group will commence work; whether that group is planned to in place until 2030; and whether minutes of that group's meetings will be publicly available.

Steve Brine: We are still developing plans for the expert group being established to support work on ending HIV transmissions by 2030. Further information will be available shortly.

Eyes: Drugs

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the causes of recent supply shortages of Ganfort and Toptiqom.

Steve Brine: We have been in direct contact with Allergan, the manufacturer of Ganfort eyedrops, who has advised that recent manufacturing issues have resulted in a delay to deliveries. These issues are now resolved and supplies are currently available. Allergan expects a full recovery by the end of February 2019. Santen, the manufacturer of Taptiqom eyedrops, has advised that they are not aware of and do not anticipate any supply issues affecting this product.

Dental Services: Fees and Charges

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people are not issued with a penalty charge for ticking the wrong box on the claim form when claiming for free dental care.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the press release entitled, Dentists welcome official investigation into fines hitting vulnerable NHS patients, published on 30 January 2019 by the British Dental Association; whether he has plans to simplify the process for claiming free dental care to reduce the number of fines issued for ticking the wrong box on dental forms.

Steve Brine: Holding answer received on 11 February 2019



All National Health Service dental practices are required to display a poster showing patient charges and to offer patients a free leaflet which sets out in detail who is entitled to free NHS dental services. Information on exemptions and support for people who are on a low income can also be found at the following link: www.nhs.uk/healthcosts Eligibility checks are carried out on claims received for exemption from NHS Dental Patient Charges. Where eligibility cannot be verified, patients are asked to confirm their eligibility or to pay the relevant dental charge plus a penalty charge. Patients are, however, able to challenge penalty charges they believe are unjustified. The Department, NHS Business Services Authority and NHS England have recognised the concern that some patients may not be clear on whether they are exempt from charges and have been working to further improve the information available to patients around eligibility. This includes promoting an easy read patient information booklet, creating an online eligibility checker and developing a national awareness campaign.

Syphilis

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral evidence of Dr Olwen Williams, the President of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, to the Health and Social Care Committee on Sexual Health on 5 February 2019, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the increase in the number of cases of syphilis diagnoses recorded in 2018.

Steve Brine: Holding answer received on 11 February 2019



Public Health England (PHE) routinely collects data on syphilis diagnoses made at sexual health clinics. Data for 2018 will be published in summer 2019. PHE is developing a Syphilis Action Plan, with recommendations for PHE and partner organisations, to address the continued increase in syphilis diagnoses in England.

Syphilis: Neonatal Mortality

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral evidence of Dr Olwen Williams, the President of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, to the Health and Social Care Committee on Sexual Health on 5 February 2019, what steps his Department plans to take to tackle the matter of neonatal deaths as a result of syphilis.

Steve Brine: Holding answer received on 11 February 2019



No neonatal deaths due to syphilis have been reported to Public Health England (PHE) from 2010 to 2018 inclusive. PHE is developing a Syphilis Action Plan which includes a maternity strand with recommendations to strengthen efforts to control congenital syphilis (babies infected by syphilis while still in the womb) through improved detection, surveillance and clinical management.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January to Question 203875, when NHS England plans to make a decision on which tumour profiling tests will be available to guide adjuvant chemotherapy decisions in early breast cancer.

Steve Brine: Holding answer received on 11 February 2019



The tumour profiling tests that are available to guide adjuvant chemotherapy decisions in early breast cancer will be included in the forthcoming updated National Genomic Test Directory for cancer. The forthcoming test directory will include the updated National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommendations.

Multiple Sclerosis: Stem Cells

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, why my constituent’s stem cell treatment for MS has been halted due to NHS England’s decision to no longer allow GPs to refer patients for the treatment.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason Ms Helen Townsend’s Stem Cell treatment for MS was halted part way through as a result of NHS England's decision that GPs can longer refer people for the treatment and that patients must now be referred by a MS Neurology Specialist.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the effect of NHS England’s decision not to allow GPs to refer patients for Stem Cell treatment for MS on (a) patient health and (b) West Lancashire constituent Ms Townsend's (i) halted treatment and (b) recovery.

Caroline Dinenage: NHS England first published its commissioning policy in 2013, revised in 2015, which permits access to autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) as a clinical option for some patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The commissioning policy is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/01/b04-haematp-stem-cll-transplt.pdf As with any HSCT there are risks to the procedure and when considering this treatment for patients with MS the balance of risk and benefit must be carefully assessed for each patient. Neurologists and transplant doctors in the United Kingdom are guided by the recommendations of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, published in 2012, and the guidance of the British Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation when considering the suitability of transplant. These criteria restrict the use of autologous HSCT to a small group of MS patients with high levels of inflammatory activity despite one or more approved disease modifying therapies and very rare patients with 'malignant' forms of MS. Patients should be assessed by both MS and transplant specialists. Neurologist and transplant doctors should be guided by these recommendations and decisions related to a patient’s care are a matter for clinicians.

Blood Diseases: Drugs

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with pharmaceutical companies on access to medication for bleeding disorders in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Stephen Hammond: The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care discusses a wide range of issues with a number of stakeholders and other Government Departments. Medicines to treat bleeding disorders are in scope of our medicines contingency plans because these are licensed medicines. Contingency work for blood and blood components is being led by NHS Blood and Transplant. We understand that these medicines are vitally important to many people in this country. Our contingency plans include sensible mitigations for medicines that come to the United Kingdom from or via the European Union to ensure that the supply of medications for bleeding disorders and other essential medicines for patients is not disrupted. In developing our plans, we have received very good engagement from industry who share our aims of ensuring that the continuity of supply of medicines and medical products for patients is maintained and able to continue unimpeded after the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019. We have asked companies to ensure a minimum of six weeks additional supply over and above existing business as usual stocks by 29 March 2019, or to make provision for airfreight of medicines that cannot be stockpiled. That is why we are working to ensure we have sufficient roll-on, roll-off freight capacity on alternative routes to enable these vital products to continue to move freely in to the UK. Medicines and other medical products will be prioritised on these routes to ensure that the flow of all these products will continue unimpeded after 29 March 2019.

Orkambi

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on securing the availability of Orkambi on the NHS for patients with cystic fibrosis.

Steve Brine: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and NHS England are leading the dialogue with Vertex Pharmaceuticals around access to their portfolio of cystic fibrosis medicines. It is critical that Vertex now re-engages fully with the NICE appraisal process and gives serious consideration to the portfolio deal offer that NHS England made at the end of July. This deal would provide immediate access for patients to all Vertex licensed medicines and future pipeline products once licensed and in advance of the individual NICE appraisals concluding. The Government fully supports the approach that NICE and NHS England are adopting. It is crucial that patients have access to the most effective and innovative medicines at a price that represents value to the National Health Service. NHS England has proposed its best offer ever for a drug. This offer, in the region of £500 million over five years, is the largest ever commitment of its kind in the 70-year history of the NHS and would guarantee immediate and expanded access to both Orkambi and the drug Kalydeco for patients who need it. Whilst it is disappointing that Vertex has not taken up NHS England’s offer, we are encouraged that there is continued dialogue between all parties.

Cystic Fibrosis: Medical Treatments

Gill Furniss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the NHS is able to offer all treatment options for patients with cystic fibrosis.

Steve Brine: Specialised services for the support and treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are commissioned nationally by NHS England. CF services are delivered in about 20 Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Centres and about 20 Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centres. There are separate service specifications for adults and children. These specifications are important in clearly defining what NHS England expects to be in place for providers to offer evidence-based, safe and effective care and treatment. The support equity of access to a nationally consistent, high quality service. The specifications can be found via the following links: www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Cystic-fibrosis-adult.pdf www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/a01Sb-spec-cystic-fibrosis-child.pdf In October 2017, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published new guidance for the diagnosis and management of CF. This includes specific details on how to monitor the condition and manage the symptoms to improve quality of life. This guidance can be found via the following link: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng78 NICE is the organisation responsible for assessing the clinical and cost effectiveness of medicines for the National Health Service.

Dental Services: Fees and Charges

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the press release entitled, Dentists welcome official investigation into fines hitting vulnerable NHS patients, published on 30 January 2019 by the British Dental Association; what steps his Department is taking to ensure that fear of receiving a fine for ticking the wrong box when claiming for free dental care does not discourage people from low income families from attending the dentist.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the announcement entitled Dentists welcome official investigation into fines hitting vulnerable NHS patients, published by the British Dental Association on 30 January 2019, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients ticking the wrong box for free dental care does not negatively affect vulnerable patients.

Steve Brine: All National Health Service dental practices are required to display a poster showing patient charges and to offer patients a free leaflet which sets out in detail who is entitled to free NHS dental services. Information on exemptions and support for people who are on a low income can also be found at the following link: www.nhs.uk/healthcosts Eligibility checks are carried out on claims received for exemption from NHS Dental Patient Charges. Where eligibility cannot be verified, patients are asked to confirm their eligibility or to pay the relevant dental charge plus a penalty charge. Patients are, however, able to challenge penalty charges they believe are unjustified. The Department, NHS Business Services Authority and NHS England have recognised the concern that some patients may not be clear on whether they are exempt from charges and has been working to further improve the information available to patients around eligibility. This includes promoting an easy read patient information booklet, creating an online eligibility checker and developing a national awareness campaign.

Brain: Injuries

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for children who have suffered brain injuries.

Stephen Hammond: There is variation nationally in the length of time some children and young people wait for paediatric neurorehabilitation services and further data is required to fully understand and address this. NHS England’s Women and Children’s Programme of Care Board and the Paediatric Neuroscience Clinical Reference Group are leading on work to gather the data and will report back to the Women and Children’s Programme of Care Board in spring 2019. The NHS Long Term Plan identified children and young people’s (CYP) services as a priority and commits to a reduction in serious brain injury of 50% by 2025. We know that early intervention for CYP with a brain injury leads to improved outcomes, with United Kingdom paediatric neurorehabilitation networks and teams playing an important role. To ensure there is funding to support this, the Government is providing an extra £20.5 billion a year to the National Health Service by 2023/24, £33.9 billion in cash terms, – supporting commitments in the Long Term Plan to reduce long waits for life-changing treatment. The additional funding will drive the reforms that deliver a better and more sustainable NHS with improved care for patients.

Food: Nitrates

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to require manufacturers to reduce the level of nitrates in processed foods; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Brine: Legislation on preservatives sets levels for nitrates in specific foods. These levels are based on extensive scientific evidence that ensures that such additives may be consumed safely over a lifetime and allows the achievement of their necessary technological function. The Food Standards Agency considers the current scientific evidence on nitrates is robust and shows nitrates continue to be highly effective in protecting consumers from dangerous pathogens like Clostridium botulinum which can present a serious risk to health.

Cancer: Health Services

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS Long Term Plan, what plans the Government has to support cancer alliances to change their footprints to align with sustainability and transformation plans.

Steve Brine: The vast majority of Cancer Alliances are already coterminous with one or more sustainability and transformation plans/integrated care systems (STP/ICSs). The NHS Cancer Programme is working closely with regional and Cancer Alliance colleagues in the few areas where STP/ICS are not yet coterminous to assess where boundaries need to change to meet this requirement, to ensure footprints align with cancer patient flows, optimise use of capacity and resources across Alliance geographies and support robust governance.

NHS: Drugs

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the memorandum of Dr David Rosser of University Hospitals Birmingham published on 30th January 2019, what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate distribution of NHS medicines in the event that the UK leaves the EU (a) with a Withdrawal Agreement and (b) without a deal.

Stephen Hammond: Subject to the Withdrawal Agreement being agreed by Parliament, the two-year Implementation Period will begin on exit day. During the Implementation Period, the United Kingdom would the UK would no longer be a Member State of the European Union, but market access for goods, including medicines, would continue on current terms. During the Implementation Period, it will be the Government’s top priority to negotiate a future economic partnership between the UK and the EU. In the Government’s White Paper we committed to securing the freest and most frictionless trade possible in goods between the UK and the EU and to agree on healthcare arrangements. Whilst a negotiated deal remains the preferred outcome, it is appropriate that preparations are made for all scenarios. The Government has been accelerating preparations that assure the continuity of supply of National Health Service medicines in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal. In August 2018, the Department wrote to all pharmaceutical companies that supply prescription-only and pharmacy medicines to the UK that come from, or via, the EU/European Economic Area (EEA) asking them to ensure a minimum of six weeks additional supply in the UK, over and above existing business-as-usual buffer stocks, by 29 March 2019. We recognise, however, that certain medicines cannot be reasonably stockpiled. Where these medicines are imported from the EU or EEA, we have asked that suppliers ensure in advance plans to air freight these medicines from the EU in the event of a ‘no deal’ exit. We are working to ensure we have sufficient roll-on, roll-off freight capacity on alternative routes to enable these vital products to continue to move freely in to the UK. Medicines and other medical products will be prioritised on these routes to ensure that the flow of all these products will continue unimpeded after 29 March 2019. Throughout enacting our plans, we have received very good engagement from industry who share our aims of ensuring that the continuity of supply of medicines and medical products for patients is maintained and able to cope with any potential delays at the border that may arise in the short term in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU exit.

Blood: Donors

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to NHS Blood and Transplant’s comments on blood transfusions published on 29th January 2019, what steps his Department is taking to reduce congestion at Channel ports to ensure the continuity of blood donor sessions in the event that the UK leaves the EU (a) with a Withdrawal Agreement and (b) without a deal.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department continues to work closely with cross-Government agencies and NHS Blood and Transplant to ensure that there is no disruption to the supply of blood and blood components in any European Union exit scenario. NHS Blood and Transplant will collect blood in Kent as usual and will hold the same number of appointments. NHS Blood and Transplant will be collecting the same amount of blood to ensure continued supply of blood to hospitals.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of the reduction to the public health budget on the number of patients admitted to hospital because of alcohol-related diseases and injuries.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on patients' health of reducing the budget for (a) sexual health services and (b) drug and alcohol services by £85 million.

Steve Brine: Local authorities (LAs) will receive over £3 billion in 2019/20, ring-fenced exclusively for use on public health. It is for LAs themselves to determine how best to use these resources based on their assessment of local need and with regard to their statutory duties. Regulations require all LAs to provide an open-access sexual health service, and a condition attached to the grant requires them to use it with regard to the need to improve their substance misuse services. Public Health England monitors and publishes data for every LA on a wide range of indicators of public health, and most are stable or improving. Last year 98% of adults accessed drug treatment services within three weeks, and attendances at sexual health services increased by 13% between 2013 and 2017.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidelines his Department has put in place for local authorities and health trusts on target waiting times for young people with severe mental health issues before they are (a) assessed and (b) offerered appropriate treatment.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The Department has introduced two waiting time standards for children and young people and are on track to meet both of these standards. The first aims for 95% of children (up to 19 years old) with eating disorders to receive treatment within a week for urgent cases and four weeks for routine cases. 81.3% of children and young people’s eating disorder patients started urgent treatment within one week and 80.2% of patients started routine treatment within four weeks in April to June 2018. The second aims for 50% of patients of all ages experiencing a first episode of psychosis to receive treatment within two weeks of referral. Nationally, the National Health Service is exceeding the target, with 76.2% of patients started treatment within two weeks in November 2018. NHS England publishes guidance for commissioners on waiting times standards for eating disorders and early intervention in psychosis, respectively, available at the following links: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/cyp-eating-disorders-access-waiting-time-standard-comm-guid.pdf https://www.england.nhs.uk/mentalhealth/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/04/eip-guidance.pdf As set out in the NHS Long Term Plan, NHS England will test approaches that could feasibly deliver four week waiting times for access to NHS support, ahead of introducing new national waiting time standards for all children and young people who need specialist mental health services. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence provide national guidance for recognising and managing psychosis and schizophrenia in children and young people, which aims to improve early recognition of psychosis and schizophrenia so that children and young people can be offered the treatment and care they need to live with the condition. This guidance can be found at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg155

Mental Health Services: Young People

Dr David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on the routes through which young people with severe mental health issues are referred to local authorities and health trusts for assessment and treatment.

Jackie Doyle-Price: The information requested is not held centrally.

Hospitals: Asbestos

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of hospitals in England that contain asbestos in their building and premises.

Stephen Hammond: Information on hospitals with asbestos is not collected centrally. National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts maintain their estate in a safe state. As required by legislation, NHS organisations locally undertake inspections, maintain a local asbestos register, and manage and dispose of it safely.

Department for Exiting the European Union

European Union (Withdrawal) Bill 2017-19

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, when his Department plans to publish the EU withdrawal agreement Bill.

Kwasi Kwarteng: As we have always said, we will introduce the Bill as soon as possible once the Withdrawal Agreement has been approved by Parliament.It would be presumptive to introduce or publish the legislation implementing the Withdrawal Agreement before Parliament has approved the terms of the final deal.The Government is committed to doing everything it can to ensure that Parliament has the opportunity to scrutinise the Bill in the time available.

Department for Education

Schools: Discipline

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to review his Department's guidance on behaviour and discipline in schools.

Nick Gibb: The Department published the behaviour and discipline in schools guidance in 2013; it was last updated in January 2016. It is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/behaviour-and-discipline-in-schools. This guidance is regularly reviewed and updated as appropriate.

Parents: Finance

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make representations to the Children’s Commissioner on that office undertaking an assessment of the effect on children of their parents being subject to no recourse to public funds.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England (OCC) is a non-departmental public body, therefore acts with independence from the government. The OCC is currently developing the business plan for 2019/20, setting out their priorities for the year ahead, and I will ask my officials to raise this issue with the Commissioner’s Office for her consideration.

Adult Education: Expenditure

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of the adult skills budget was spent on (a) level 2, (b) level 3, (c) level 4 and (d) level 5 qualifications in each of the last five years for which information is available.

Anne Milton: The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.Below is the proportion of the adult education budget (excluding apprenticeships) spent on level 2 aims (excluding maths, English, English for speakers of other languages - ESOL - and traineeships) in each of the last 3 years:2015-16: 20%.2016-17: 19%.2017-18: 23%.Below is the proportion of the adult education budget (excluding apprenticeships) spent on level 3 aims (excluding maths, English, ESOL and traineeships) in each of the last 3 years:2015-16: 8%.2016-17: 8%.2017-18: 5%.

Pupil Exclusions

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of schools off-rolling pupils on the standard of those pupils' education.

Nick Gibb: The law is clear that a pupil’s name can only be deleted from the admission register on the grounds prescribed in regulation 8 of the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended. Where a school issues an exclusion, there is a formal process that must be followed. ‘Unofficial’ or ‘informal’ exclusions, such as sending pupils home to ‘cool off’, are unlawful regardless of whether they are done with the agreement of parents or carers and regardless of the age of the pupil. Any exclusion of a pupil, even for short periods of time, must be formally recorded. Following media coverage of inappropriate off-rolling last summer, the Department wrote to all secondary schools, reminding them of the rules surrounding exclusion. Ofsted recently issued guidance to inspectors, reminding them to be alert to this matter. The guidance makes clear that instances of off-rolling should be discussed with the school during the inspection, and should inform the evaluation of the school.

Schools: Discipline

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of the use of isolation rooms in primary and secondary schools on decreasing incidences of disruptive behaviour.

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of isolation rooms on pupils with learning difficulties.

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the maximum amount of time that a school could decide to place a disruptive pupil in an isolation room is.

Nick Gibb: Information regarding schools’ use of isolation rooms is not held centrally. We trust schools to develop their own policies and strategies for managing disruptive behaviour according to their particular circumstances. To help schools develop effective strategies, the Department has produced advice for schools which covers what should be included in their behaviour policy, which can be viewed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/488034/Behaviour_and_Discipline_in_Schools_-_A_guide_for_headteachers_and_School_Staff.pdf. Schools can adopt a policy which allows disruptive pupils to be placed in isolation away from other pupils. If a school uses isolation rooms as a disciplinary penalty, this should be made clear in their behaviour policy. As with other disciplinary penalties, schools must act lawfully, reasonably and proportionately in all cases, and must take account of any special education needs or disabilities pupils placed in isolation may have. The school must also ensure the health and safety of pupils. It is for individual schools to decide how long a pupil should be kept in isolation and for the staff member in charge to determine what pupils may and may not do during the time they are there. Schools should ensure that pupils are kept in isolation no longer than is necessary and that their time spent there is used as constructively as possible.

Schools: Finance

Angela Rayner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the School System met to discuss efficiency savings since his speech to the Schools and Academies Show on 21 November 2018.

Nadhim Zahawi: My noble Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the School System regularly meets with stakeholders across the sector. Since the conference, he has met with a number of academy trusts to discuss their financial and educational performance, as he has done since taking up his role in the department. More broadly, the Education and Skills Funding Agency work with academy trusts to support effective schools resource management. This is done with specialist advisers and three-year financial forecasting, prioritising engagement with those trusts forecasting future deficits or declining reserves. Last October, the department launched a new self-assessment tool for academy trusts to reassure themselves that they are managing resources effectively and to identify adjustments to ensure effective resource management. To date, this tool has been downloaded over 5,000 times. The department continues to work with local authorities to improve school resource management in maintained schools and has developed a range of support and benchmarking tools for all schools and local authorities to assist with this.

Migration: Education

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department provides guidance to the writers of educational textbooks on how to present the issue of migration in their books.

Nick Gibb: The Government does not provide writers of educational textbooks with guidance on the presentation of migration. Textbook writers can find information on the content of programmes of study for each national curriculum subject, GCSE subject content, and A Level subject content at the following links: www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum.​www.gov.uk/government/collections/gcse-subject-content. www.gov.uk/government/collections/gce-as-and-a-level-subject-content.

Academies Enterprise Trust: Finance

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will publish details of the financial turnaround plan agreed between his Department, the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), including (a) how much public money provided by the ESFA has been earmarked to fund AET staff redundancy costs, (b) whether interest is being charged on any grants or loans to AET, (c) the loan repayment schedule for any such grants or loans, (d) financial savings AET is forecast to make while the plan is implemented and (e) whether the plan includes arrangements for outsourcing any AET staff.

Nick Gibb: Holding answer received on 11 February 2019



Where trusts face financial difficulty, the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) may provide additional funding to protect the education of children. Interest is not charged on the revenue funding provided to trusts by the ESFA for these purposes.The ESFA has agreed to provide up to £16.1 million in recoverable and non-recoverable deficit funding to support the turnaround plan of the Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), covering 2017-18 to 2020-21. AET is the largest academy trust in the country, responsible for over 60 academies. To date, we have provided £4.5 million, of which £3.06 million has been earmarked for restructuring costs, which will include redundancy payments. A repayment schedule for the recoverable funding has been agreed with AET and is due to commence in the 2019-20 academic year, subject to their ability to pay.The ESFA is continuing to work with AET as it reviews the scope for financial efficiency; these plans are still under development. The Department is not aware of any plans for outsourcing AET staff.

Teachers: Pay

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will implement the School Teachers' Review Body's recommendations on teachers’ pay.

Nick Gibb: The Government accepted in full the School Teachers’ Review Body's (STRB) 2018 recommendation for a 3.5% uplift to the minima and maxima of the main pay range. A 2% uplift was applied to the statutory minima and maxima of the upper pay range and the leading practitioner pay range. A 1.5% uplift was applied to leadership pay ranges, including headteacher groups. The STRB is currently considering the pay remit in respect of the 2019 teachers' pay award. The Government will consider the STRB recommendations once they have been received.

Foster Care: Allowances

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of national minimum allowances for foster carers; and what plans he has to set minimum allowances for those providing staying-put arrangements.

Nadhim Zahawi: The national minimum standards for fostering services are clear that every foster parent with a child in placement should receive an allowance that covers the full cost of caring for a child. The government recommends a minimum allowance that fostering service providers should pay to their foster parents each week and uplifts it annually in line with the gross domestic product deflators. The government does not believe that introducing a national minimum allowance for Staying Put carers is the right way forward. Unlike children in foster care, young people in Staying Put arrangements are adults, and may be in work, or claiming benefits. These financial sources can be used to contribute to the cost of providing the Staying Put arrangement, in a similar way that young people who are still living at home with their parents may contribute to the costs of running the household.

Schools: Antisemitism

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking within schools to tackle antisemitism.

Anne Milton: The Department for Education has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Schools: Sexual Offences

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to require schools to record incidents of sexual violence; and if he will require Ofsted to assess the effectiveness of schools in preventing incidents of sexual violence; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi: The department’s statutory guidance for schools, ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (KCSIE), already makes clear that schools should record all of their concerns, discussions and decisions regarding safeguarding, and the reasons for those decisions, in writing. The department recently strengthened KCSIE and introduced a new Part 5. This provides guidance on managing reports of child on child sexual violence and sexual harassment. The guidance is clear that the starting point for schools is to pass reports of rape, assault by penetration or sexual assault to the police. Ofsted inspectors must always evaluate the effectiveness of how schools keep their pupils safe. If inspectors are made aware of safeguarding issues during the inspection process, they will check that these have been acted on . If inspectors find evidence they have not been dealt with this would be reflected in the judgement awarded to the school. If serious safeguarding concerns are reported to Ofsted outside of the inspection cycle, it can of course bring forward the inspection of a school.

Erasmus+ Programme

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the UK remains part of the Erasmus programme after 29 March 2019.

Chris Skidmore: The UK government has repeatedly made clear that it values international exchange and collaboration in education and training as part of its vision for a global Britain, and we believe that the UK and European countries should continue to give young people and students the chance to benefit from each other’s world leading universities post-exit.In the event that there is no agreement between the UK and the EU on the Withdrawal Agreement – a “no deal” scenario - it is clearly in the interests of both parties to agree how we can ensure that mobilities and projects can be managed smoothly to completion. This will provide clarity and reassurance for both UK and EU students and institutions.The government’s guarantee will cover the payment of awards to UK applicants for all successful Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps bids submitted before the end of 2020. Successful bids are those that are approved directly by the European Commission or by the UK National Agency and ratified by the European Commission.To provide more clarity, we published a new technical notice at the end of January, which provides detailed guidance to organisations and students on the UK’s anticipated participation in the current Erasmus+ programme (2014 to 2020) in the event of no deal. You can read this here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/erasmus-in-the-uk-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/erasmus-in-the-uk-if-theres-no-brexit-deal .

Free Schools: Greater London

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2018 to Question 195085, whether his Department made a subsequent assessment of the viability of The Hoo as a location for the proposed Abacus Free School in Belsize Park since the reduction of its listed price at auction.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Hoo site has already been reviewed and determined to be unsuitable for Abacus Belsize Primary School. The department has purchased a suitable site and intends to submit a planning application shortly.

Schools: Asbestos

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of schools in England that contain asbestos in their buildings and premises.

Nick Gibb: In February 2017, the Department published information based on a data collection that ran between 29 January and 31 March 2016. Of the 5,592 (25.2%) state-funded schools in England which participated, 4,646 (83.1%) reported that asbestos was present in their buildings. The Department’s current asbestos data collection (Asbestos Management Assurance Process) will close on 15 February 2019 and updated information will be available in spring 2019. Advice from the Health and Safety Executive is that if asbestos is unlikely to be damaged or disturbed, then it is best managed in situ.

Students: Mental Health

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps his Department is taking to support universities in protecting the mental health of students.

Chris Skidmore: Mental Health is a priority for this government. This is why the government is continuing to work closely with Universities UK on embedding the Step Change programme within the sector. Step Change calls on higher education leaders to adopt mental health as a strategic priority.The University Mental Health Charter announced in June 2018 is backed by the government and led by the sector, and will drive up standards in promoting student and staff mental health and wellbeing. In spring, there will be 6 consultation events around the UK, bringing together university leaders, staff and students to help shape the Charter’s structure and content.Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are autonomous bodies, independent from government. HEIs are not only experts in their student population but also best placed to identify the needs of their particular student body.UK Research and Innovation launched eight new mental health networks in September, including the SMARTEN Network. This Network will work with researchers with a range of expertise and key stakeholders across the Higher Education sector to improve the understanding of student mental health. As part of this work, the network will run a workshop on 13 March for stakeholders to share their perspectives on what is helpful and feasible in terms of measuring student mental health.

Ministry of Justice

Prisons

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential fiscal effect of leaving the EU without a deal on his Department's operation and management of prisons.

Rory Stewart: As part of cross-Whitehall preparations for a no deal scenario, all Government Departments are considering what resources are required to mitigate any potential impacts and to ensure that businesses and citizens are sufficiently prepared for all eventualities of Brexit. The Ministry of Justice was allocated £17.3m in 18/19 and £30m in 19/20 from HMT specifically for EU-related activities. Robust plans are in place to ensure EU Exit related allocations are spent in an appropriate and efficient way across all business areas in the MoJ. This has allowed the department to prepare effectively for the potential impact on prisons, in any EU exit scenario. Delivering a revised deal negotiated with the EU remains the Government’s top priority. This has not changed. The Government is accelerating no deal preparations to ensure the country is prepared for every eventuality. It is the responsible thing to do.

Emergency Services: Crimes of Violence

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people who assaulted emergency services staff were given custodial sentences in 2018.

Rory Stewart: Criminal Justice Statistics including custodial sentences for 2018 will be published in May 2019.

Courts: Londonderry

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the attack on Londonderry courthouse on 20 January 2019.

Lucy Frazer: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Juries

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were successful in an application to be exempt from jury duty in each of the last three years.

Lucy Frazer: The number of people who were successful in an application to be exempt from jury duty in each of the last three years was 99,873 in 2016, 107,417 in 2017 and 109,342 in 2018. Any request for excusal is reviewed by a Jury Summoning Clerk. Although a civic duty to attend if summoned, there are various reasons why it would not be appropriate for prospective jurors to attend jury service, including medical conditions, language difficulties and care for dependents.

Trials

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people failed to appear for their court hearings in each of the last three years.

Lucy Frazer: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Young Offenders: Rehabilitation

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps his Department has taken to promote rehabilitation of young offenders.

Edward Argar: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Courts: Health Services

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of court custody facilities have adequate healthcare provision.

Lucy Frazer: All court custody suites in England and Wales have a provision for healthcare within the providers contract. This provision includes immediate medical attention as necessary during the time that a prisoner and/or any accompanying baby is in the Contractor’s custody. The contracts cover administration of first aid, where required treatment by trained staff, and the emergency attendance of a doctor or other emergency healthcare provider where necessary. There is also provision for examination by a healthcare provider of prisoners on whom force has been used if there is a visible sign of injury or it has been requested. Emergency medical provision is also activated in relation to instances of self-harm. The inclusion of specialist care for pregnant/nursing mothers and prisoners suffering from psychiatric disorders is also included. Contractors also need to verify any medication needs of those received into their custody off bail.

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the oral contribution of the hon. Member for Sefton Central on 5 February 2019 Official Report column 159, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of adopting the system of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder courts used in the Canadian province of Manitoba.

Edward Argar: The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements: USA

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the inclusion of the National Health Service in a future trade agreement between the US and the UK.

George Hollingbery: The Government is prioritising UK-US FTA negotiations from April, having already laid the ground work for an ambitious agreement through joint working groups. Protecting the NHS is of the utmost importance and the UK Government’s position is that the NHS is not, and never will be, for sale to the private sector, whether overseas or domestic. The NHS is protected by specific exceptions and reservations in EU trade agreements, including the recent EU-Canada agreement (CETA). As we leave the EU, the UK will continue to ensure that rigorous protections are included in all trade agreements it is party to.

Trade Agreements: Africa

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what progress he has made on the roll-over of agreements with (a) Ghana, (b) Côte D’Ivoire and (c) Kenya.

George Hollingbery: As the UK leaves the EU, we seek to replicate the effects of seven EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, including agreements with Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. We are working with partners to conclude and implement agreements from 29 March 2019 or as soon as possible thereafter in the event of a “no deal” exit. The UK continues to support the implementation of the EU’s EPA with the East Africa Community (EAC). As and when EAC partners find a way to agree to sign the EPA, the UK will seek to replicate this agreement. The Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Act enables the UK to put in place a UK trade preferences scheme for developing countries. Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Kenya will be eligible for tariff reductions on two-thirds of products under this scheme.

Trade Agreements

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on developing (a) countries and (b) sectors on roll-over agreements not being signed by 29 March 2019.

George Hollingbery: As the UK exits the EU, we aim to replicate the effects of the EU’s Association Agreements and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) in order to avoid trade disruption for developing countries. EPAs are development-focused trade agreements with African, Caribbean and Pacific countries which aim to promote increased trade and investment by putting our trading relationship on a more equitable, mature and business-like footing, supporting sustainable growth and poverty reduction. It is in both our interests, and the interests of businesses and consumers, that we continue to trade on the same basis as we do now after the UK leaves the EU. We have already signed an agreement with the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) countries to ensure continuity. The Government is working to mitigate the risks, including economic, if trade is disrupted by the absence of an agreement or a gap in coverage.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Housing: Swale

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2018 to Question 908852, what assessment he has made of the effect of plans for increased housing in Swale on access to primary health care in that area.

Kit Malthouse: The revised National Planning Policy Framework requires local planning authorities to set clearer policy requirements for infrastructure and community facilities through plans, informed by evidence on infrastructure need and cost and viability assessments. At an early stage in the plan-making process, authorities will need to work alongside infrastructure providers, including healthcare providers, to identify requirements, and opportunities for addressing them.It is understood that Swale Borough Council are updating their Local Plan. Once submitted, it will be examined by an independent Inspector. In testing the soundness of a plan, Inspectors assess whether sufficient provision is made for community facilities such as health infrastructure.

Community Housing Fund

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to maintain funding for the Community Housing Fund after March 2020.

Kit Malthouse: The Community Housing Fund is currently scheduled to close on 31 March 2020 – the end of the current Spending Review period. Decisions on funding for 2020-21 onwards are a matter for the Spending Review, which will take place this year.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Staff

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many full-time equivalent employees his Department employed in each directorate of his Department in each financial since 2009-10; and what estimate he has made of the number of full-time equivalent staff that will be employed in those directorates in each financial year to 2020-21.

James Brokenshire: Due to internal changes and restructuring in the time since 2010, there is no comparable data available at departmental directorate level. We can confirm that the total number of full-time equivalent staff employed by this Department since 2010 is accurately reflected in our previous answer on 4 June 2018 to Question UIN147328. We are not able to estimate the total number of full-time equivalent staff in each of the department’s directorates in future years prior to budgets being set by Her Majesty's Treasury for the years in question.

Business Premises: Tenancy Deposit Schemes

Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will consider implementing an obligatory tenancy deposit scheme for commercial premises with a rateable value of £51,000 or less to ensure that small and medium enterprises which put down deposits in order to secure business premises have their deposits protected.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The terms on whether and how a deposit will be paid by the tenants of a commercial property, and how they will be retained, should be included within the commercial lease agreement agreed by both the landlord and the tenant. It is considered to be best practice to include a rent deposit deed, which is a document that sets how a landlord secures a commercial tenant's deposit.Under the tenancy deposit protection legislation introduced in the Housing Act 2004, all landlords letting on residential assured shorthold tenancies are required to protect their tenants' deposits in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of taking the deposit. The landlord must also serve the tenant with certain prescribed information within the same thirty-day period. We do not currently have any plans to require the use of a tenancy deposit scheme for commercial tenancies.Since 1 October 2014, it has been a legal requirement for lettings agents and property managers in England to join one of two government-approved redress schemes: the Property Ombudsman or the Property Redress Scheme. The letting agent or property manager should arbitrate any disputes between the landlord or tenant in the first instance. Should the letting agents or property managers be unable to arbitrate the dispute, then a complaint can be made to the redress scheme.

Members: Correspondence

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to respond to the letter of 14 January 2019 from the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich on Section 20 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 Technical Group.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: A response to the letter was sent on 6 February.

Housing: Solihull

Julian Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much has been allocated in new homes bonus payments to Solihull metropolitan borough council in each year since 2011.

Kit Malthouse: The New Homes Bonus was introduced in 2011/12 to provide an incentive for local authorities to encourage housing growth in their areas. The table below shows the allocations for Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in each year since 2011. Table: Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council New Homes Bonus allocationsYearAmountYear 1 (2011-12)£925,418Year 2 (2012-13)£1,461,637Year 3 (2013-14)£1,874,822Year 4 (2014-15)£2,070,900Year 5 (2015-16)£2,964,376Year 6 (2016-17)£3,987,362Year 7 (2017-18)£3,155,634Year 8 (2018-19)£3,071,656Year 9 (2019-20)£2,793,814

Minority Groups: Cornwall

Steve Double: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to recognise the Cornish as a national minority.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: The proud history, distinct culture and unique heritage of Cornwall is fully recognised by the Government, and the Cornish were recognised as a national minority in 2014. The Government will continue to work with Cornwall Council and its partners to encourage the further development of Cornish culture.The Government has responded to the recommendations in the 2016 Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM) Advisory Committee report and provided additional funding for Cornish culture and language support. In February 2017, the Government committed £100,000 over two years directly to Cornwall Council to provide further impetus to this work, complementing the devolution deal already reached with local partners. The Government is currently reviewing options for further funding from 2019/20 onwards.

Social Rented Housing: Rents

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the change was in the level of rent arrears among public sector housing tenants between 2016 and 2018.

Kit Malthouse: MHCLG's English Housing Survey collects data on whether social renters are in rent arrears although does not collect data on the value of rent arrears. The data for the latest available year, 2016-17, can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/english-housing-survey-2016-to-2017-social-rented-sector.

Private Rented Housing: Licensing

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish the outcome of the selective licensing review announced in June 2018.

Mrs Heather Wheeler: Good progress is being made on the review by our independent researchers and the final report is on schedule to be published in Spring 2019.

Building Regulations: Fire Prevention

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2019 to Question 215586 on Building Research Establishment, whether the Building Research Establishment's April 2016 report External Fire Spread – Part 1 Background research informed the development of building regulations on fire safety.

Kit Malthouse: The department keeps building regulations under constant review. Policy is developed on the basis of a range of research and expert advice. On 18 December 2018 the Government published a Call for Evidence for a wider Technical Review of Approved Document B. The review will address fire safety issues for all types of buildings. Responses to the call for evidence are invited by 1 March.

Devolution: Disclosure of Information

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has any plans to review the effectiveness of the way the Government shares information with devolved regional governments including metro mayors.

Jake Berry: Through my department’s work on agreeing and implementing the Devolution Deals, and on local growth matters more broadly, my officials regularly engage with the mayoral combined authorities.I also engage with the metro mayors, including recently having met with them all alongside DExEU Minister Kwasi Kwarteng to discuss EU Exit. I will also be speaking with all of the Mayors over the coming weeks to discuss the development of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Bellwin Scheme: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Manchester Evening News article, Greater Manchester is still owed £1 million by the government for battling last summer's moorland blazes, published on 6 February 2018, what discussions she has with the Prime Minister on the payment of funds through the Bellwin Scheme to Greater Manchester combined authority.

James Brokenshire: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Bellwin Scheme

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what advice the Cabinet Office provides his Department on payment to local authorities of funds through the Bellwin Scheme.

James Brokenshire: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish a consultation on the Shared Prosperity Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if the Government will make it its policy to ringfence funding in the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for programmes providing employment support to disadvantaged communities.

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if the Government will make it its policy to match the level of funding allocated for employment support in the Shared Prosperity Fund to that in the European Social Fund after the UK leaves the EU.

Jake Berry: The government recognises that not all places see the same opportunities. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will tackle inequalities between communities by raising productivity, especially in those parts of our country whose economies are furthest behind. We will consult on the design and priorities of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund shortly, which will give all interested parties to contribute their views ahead of final decisions being made at spending review.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Health

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the article in the Express entitled A fifth of British troops are too unfit to fight warns former Armed Forces chief, published on 25 February 2018, whether a fifth of soldiers are unfit for overseas action; and what work his Department is doing to ensure soldiers are fit for action.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: It is not true that a fifth of Armed Forces personnel are too unfit to fight. Approximately 80% of UK Armed Forces personnel are Medically Fully Deployable, however 90% could deploy with some personnel subject to a medical risk assessment; 98% of UK Armed Forces personnel are currently employable within the Ministry of Defence (MOD).Service personnel can be non-deployable for various reasons which include failing a fitness test, but also those identified as being Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS) which provides access to the Defence Recovery Capability, enabling an effective return to duty or transition to a properly supported and appropriately skilled civilian life.The military has programmes that provide long-term support and change behaviour strategies to address poor lifestyle choices and weight management issues. If personnel fail a fitness test, they are put on a targeted programme to help them back to the required levels. The MOD has trialled the Defence Occupational Fitness Programme (DOFit) which provides evidence-based courses, supported by Public Health England, aimed at helping individuals return to optimal fitness. These can be employed post-injury, or in the event of someone not being able to complete the fitness test to a satisfactory standard. Following completion of the DOFit trial the programme has been implemented by the Royal Navy and the Army.

USA: INF Treaty

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the decision by the US Government to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty on UK security.

Gavin Williamson: Along with NATO Allies, we strongly support the US findings that Russia's development and deployment of its SSC-8 cruise missile system amounts to a material breach of the INF Treaty. This reflects a broader pattern of Russian behaviour that is intended to weaken the overall Euro-Atlantic security architecture. The Treaty's six-month withdrawal process offers Russia a final opportunity to return to full and verified compliance and respect its Treaty obligations.The UK is engaged with NATO to assess the military implications for NATO in the event that Russia does not return to verifiable compliance. We remain confident in our capabilities and our ability to effectively deter and defend against Russian attempts to undermine Euro-Atlantic security. We will continue to consult regularly with Allies to keep the fielding of Russian intermediate range missiles under close review. NATO Allies reaffirmed this position on 2 February 2019.

Gurkhas: Pensions

Leo Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to increase the pension for former Gurkha soldiers; and if will he make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: The Government is committed to ensuring that Gurkha veterans continue to receive a fair pension which provides for a good standard of living in Nepal. Gurkha pensions are currently increased in two ways. The first is through an annual increase based on the rate of inflation set by the Nepali Central Bank each year. The second is following a review of the outcome of the 10 yearly Indian Central Pay Commission to determine whether changes made to Indian pension rates, which Gurkha pension rates are currently based on, require increases to be made to British Gurkha Pension rates. The latest review is nearly complete and we expect to announce the outcome in due course.

Japan: Military Alliances

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to strengthen the defence and security relationship between the UK and Japan.

Mark Lancaster: In 2017 Prime Ministers May and Abe signed a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation and reaffirmed this in January 2019 during Prime Minister Abe's visit to the UK. We have delivered on this throughout 2018 by deploying three Royal Navy ships to the region which exercised with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, and conducted the first-ever UK land exercise in Japan. In addition, we are developing an administrative and legal framework to support further exercises, operations, and capability partnerships, including the possibility of exploring cooperation on future combat aircraft and air-to-air missiles. During HMS Montrose's upcoming deployment to the region, in support of United Nations Security Council Resolutions against North Korea, she will take the opportunity to exercise with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Ministry of Defence: Overseas Aid

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2019 to Question 208846 on Ministry of Defence: Overseas Aid,  what that money was spent on.

Mark Lancaster: Since the beginning of 2015 the Ministry of Defence has spent a total of £13.98 million on Official Development. The 2018 figure is currently underdoing a regular assurance process and is scheduled to be published on 1 April 2019. A breakdown by programme is detailed below*. Programme2015 (£ million)2016 (£ million)2017 (£ million)Defence Education Programmes1.742.283.74British Forces Cyprus: Refugee Camp0.610.750.63UK Hydrographic Office Charting Support0.200.500.86Locally Employed Civilian Training: Afghanistan-1.250.86Royal Navy: Disaster Relief TrainingLess than 0.10Less than 0.10Less than 0.10‘Askari Serpent’: Local Vaccination Programmes-0.110.10Humanitarian Stores - Migrant Rescue in Mediterranean0.180.13-Total2.755.11 6.12 *Figures rounded to 2 decimal places, in accordance with guidelines – aid programmes are recorded by calendar years.

Army: Germany

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the squadron deployed to Minden will be activated; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many M3 Amphibious Rigs are available at Ayrshire Barracks in Monchengladbach; when those M3 Amphibious Rigs will be transferred to the German Army barracks at Minden; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: In October 2018, a Joint Vision Statement was signed, reaffirming the continuing importance of close defence co-operation with Germany. This committed the UK to a combined river crossing capability with shared facilities in Minden. Elements of 23 Amphibious Engineer squadron, including some M3 rigs, are already located at Minden and will continue to grow until it is fully established in 2020. We do not routinely comment on specific locations for individual capabilities as to do so would compromise operational security, or would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Islamic State

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the strength of Daesh (a) in Iraq, (b) in Syria and (c) throughout the rest of the world; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster: Daesh now holds just a few square kilometres in the Middle Euphrates River Valley. The Global Coalition assesses there are currently not enough Daesh fighters remaining in Iraq and Syria to make any further significant territorial gains. However, Daesh has dispersed into a cellular structure in order to maintain insurgency activity.Daesh has also attempted to build a global network of affiliates, branches and sympathisers, the strength of which varies country to country. In many countries, Daesh's local network will continue to pose an enduring threat to regional stability. It will likely be limited to terrorist-type activity due to concerted counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations and competition with other militant groups.

Fires: Greater Manchester

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Manchester Evening News article, Greater Manchester is still owed £1 million by the government for battling last summer's moorland blazes, published on 6 February 2018, whether his Department has repaid any of the £70,000 given to it by the Greater Manchester combined authority.

Mark Lancaster: Any expenditure incurred by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority may be reimbursed subject to a successful claim through the Bellwin scheme, which is administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Department for Work and Pensions

Disability Living Allowance: Children

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2018 to Question 180219 on Disability Living Allowance: Children, whether the pilot undertaken by the Motability and Family Fund to support children under the age of three who rely on bulky medical equipment has concluded; and what outcomes that pilot has achieved.

Sarah Newton: Motability and the Family Fund are independent charities who, after being introduced by the Department, developed a pilot scheme to support families with children under the age of three that rely on bulky medical equipment. We understand that Motability intend to significantly increase the scale of this project in order to help some of the most severely disabled children in the coming years. I look forward to them sharing their plans for this important initiative.

Personal Independence Payment

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer on 11 January 2019 to Question 203813, how many applications were subsequently successful of claimants who died after registering but prior to her Department making a decision on their claim.

Sarah Newton: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is claimed by people with a range of health conditions and disabilities, many of which are degenerative or life limiting and the Department aims to treat the death of any claimant sympathetically. Claims made under the special rules for people who are terminally ill are fast tracked and are currently being cleared within 6 working days for new claimants. The cause of death of PIP claimants is not collated centrally by the Department. Over 3.6 million applications to PIP were made between April 2013 and 30th April 2018. Of these, 17,070 claimants died after registering but prior to the DWP making a decision on their claim.Of those 17,070, the Department made an initial decision to award PIP for 5,420 claims. This data is prior to any Mandatory Reconsideration or Appeal action.If a claimant dies before a decision is made on an outstanding claim, the Department establishes whether the claimant’s representative or next of kin wishes to proceed with the claim. If not, the claim is withdrawn. Around 7,610 of the 17,070 claims were withdrawn rather than awarded or disallowed. The table below shows the outcomes of PIP decisions that were made on the 17,070 claimants who died prior to the Decision being made: Outcome of Initial Decision*Number of ClaimsAwarded5,420Disallowed pre-referral to the Assessment Provider1,220Disallowed pre-referral to the Assessment Provider - due to non-return of Part 2 within the time limit2,070Disallowed post-referral to the Assessment Provider - Failed Assessment290Disallowed post-referral to the Assessment Provider - Failed to Attend Assessment470Withdrawn7,610Total17,070Source: PIP ADS* This data shows the initial decision and may change after Mandatory Reconsideration or Appeal. Notes:These figures include claims made under both Normal Rules and Special Rules for the Terminally Ill and include new claims and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to PIP reassessment claims.The point of application is taken as the day the claimant registered a claim to PIP as recorded on the PIP computer system.This data shows the initial decision and may change after Mandatory Reconsideration and Appeal.This is unpublished data from the PIP computer system’s (PIP CS) management information. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision.Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.Components may not sum to the totals due to rounding.GB only. Under the Social Security (Notification of Deaths) Regulations 2012 and s125 of Social Security Administration Act 1992 date of death is provided to the Department for all registered deaths. Additionally next of kin also provide information on the date of death of an individual and this information is used appropriately in the administration of Departmental benefits. There is no evidence in this data to suggest someone’s reason for claiming PIP was the cause of their death and it would be misleading to suggest otherwise. People claim PIP for various reasons, the majority of which are non-life threatening.

Personal Independence Payment

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer on 11 January 2019 to Question 203813, how many claimants who died after registering but prior to her Department making a decision on their claim subsequently received a payment to their estate.

Sarah Newton: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is claimed by people with a range of health conditions and disabilities, many of which are degenerative or life limiting and the Department treats the death of any claimant sympathetically. Claims made under the special rules for people who are terminally ill are fast tracked and are currently being cleared within 6 working days for new claimants. Unfortunately, the information requested on payments to an individual’s estate is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Personal Independence Payment

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department determines that a claimant has a health condition or disability that qualifies them to apply for personal independence payment at the point of (a) testing, (b) diagnosis or (c) treatment.

Sarah Newton: Other than for claims from people who are terminally ill, entitlement to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is on the basis of an assessment of an individual’s needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability, not the health condition or disability itself. The definition of a health condition or disability being long-term is through the application of a three month qualifying period, during which a claimant would have met the PIP entitlement conditions, and a nine month prospective test during which they are expected to meet the entitlement conditions. A diagnosis is not a necessary pre-cursor to a decision although details of any treatment may be taken in to account as part of the assessment.

Cold Weather Payments

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will publish the findings of the most recent annual review on cold weather payments.

Justin Tomlinson: The data used by the Met Office is not currently published. Representations made during the previous winter about the suitability of individual weather stations and the links with postcode districts are considered as part of the review. The responses to these are sent to the relevant Member of Parliament along with any weather station changes. A copy of the letters are also sent to the House of Commons Library.

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

Marion Fellows: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2019 to Question 208914 on Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations, what her Department’s definition is of prescriptive.

Sarah Newton: Holding answer received on 08 February 2019



The word ‘prescriptive’ is not defined in the Personal Independence Payment audit criteria.Where DWP considers that assessment reports are not fit for purpose it may return them to Assessment Providers for rework, which will be carried out at their expense.The criteria are that reports will be:fair and impartial;legible and concise;in accordance with relevant legislation;comprehensive, clearly explaining the medical issues raised, fully clarifying any contradictions in evidence;in plain English and free of medical jargon and unexplained medical abbreviations;presented clearly; andcomplete.The rework action to be taken by Assessment Providers will vary on a case-by-case basis. Wherever possible, cases should be discussed with the original Health Professional or referred back to them for further action to be taken.

Social Security Benefits: Neurology

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have a neurological condition applying for assessment for (a) personal independence payment and (b) employment and support allowance who are assessed by an appropriate health care professional for that neurological condition in each year for which information is available.

Sarah Newton: Holding answer received on 08 February 2019



The information requested is not available. Medical condition data is collected from the point of claim on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) from claimants’ fit notes, and at Work Capability Assessments (WCA). DWP statistics on the number of applications for ESA are grouped into medical conditions based on the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD10) published by the World Health Organisation and do not include a specific group of neurological conditions. Information on the number of initial ESA WCA applications by available groups of medical conditions are available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk. The Departments’ choice of system for recording groups of medical conditions does not affect the correct administration the benefits individual recipients are entitled to. In the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application process, claimants’ main disabling condition is only recorded for collation by the Department at assessment. It is not recorded at the point of application. The Department does not therefore hold data on the number of applicants to PIP with particular conditions. Only those who have a disability assessment determination decision will have a main disabling condition recorded for them. Information on the number of initial decisions made by disabling condition for claimants who had an assessment is published in the PIP clearances table and available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk. PIP main disabling conditions are recorded using a different system to ESA. Guidance for users of Stat Xplore is available at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html All assessments of claimants to ESA and PIP are carried out by appropriate Health Professionals. They are functional assessments which focus not on a claimant’s condition but on the functional effects of that condition. All Health Professionals have passed strict recruitment and experience criteria and are registered with a relevant regulatory body. Healthcare Professionals carrying out assessments for PIP and WCAs for ESA must have 2 years of clinical experience (or less than 2 years post full registration experience by individual agreement with the Department) and are trained to undertake functional assessments. In addition, they complete training on neurological conditions and have access to a range of relevant resources. Health Professionals can engage with claimants’ specialists where necessary to gather supporting medical evidence.

Pension Credit

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2019 to Question 212389, what estimate she has made of the number of couples affected in (a) 2019-20, (b) 2020-21 and (c) 2021-22 of the changes to be introduced in May 2019 to the eligibility for pension credit of couples where one partner has reached state pension age and the other has not.

Guy Opperman: Holding answer received on 08 February 2019



The Welfare Reform Act 2012 amended entitlement conditions for Pension Credit so as to require both members of a couple to have reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit before the couple can be entitled to it. The change will not affect mixed age couples who are entitled to Pension Credit and/or pension age Housing Benefit immediately before the implementation date unless their entitlement to both those benefits subsequently ends. An estimate of the number of mixed age couples who may be affected by the forthcoming changes to be introduced on 15 May 2019 is set out below:Estimated mixed age couples affected by policy change Year2019/202020/212021/22 15,00030,00040,000

Employment and Support Allowance: Suicide

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to NHS Digital's Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014, what assessment she has made of the factors contributing to attempted suicide rates of employment and support allowance claimants relative to the non-claimant population.

Sarah Newton: Holding answer received on 08 February 2019



Suicide is a tragic and complex issue which we take extremely seriously. Suicidal thoughts and behaviours cause considerable distress to those it affects, and it is therefore important that we interpret any data about these issues accurately. The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014, commissioned by NHS digital, makes no causal link between the claiming of benefit and the likelihood of suicide. We recognise that many people claiming benefits, including Employment and Support Allowance, are particularly vulnerable and we continue to explore ways to improve the claimant journey, especially for those who have mental health conditions. We take mental health extremely seriously and have safeguards in place to ensure people are supported throughout the claiming process.

Department for Work and Pensions: Overseas Aid

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2019 to Question 208843 on Department for Work and Pensions: Overseas Aid, what that money was spent on.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government is clear that in meeting its responsibilities to the world's poorest through its aid commitments, the UK also protects its own security and interests. As set out in the UK's Aid Strategy, the UK aid budget is used to tackle the great global challenges - from the root causes of mass migration and disease, to the threat of terrorism and global climate change - all of which also directly threaten British interests. The spend comprises part of DWP’s subscription to the International Labour Organisation and the year one costs of refugees from the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme. Details of UK ODA programming can be found on the DevTracker database at https://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/

Pension Credit

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will issue a response to Early Day Motion 2033 on Pension Credit - Debate and Vote.

Guy Opperman: The Government’s reforms to the welfare system are designed to support those who need it and help people into work. We have reduced pensioner poverty to close to historically low levels and the triple lock on the State Pension has helped lift the incomes of millions of pensioners. Since 2010, we have increased the annual level of the basic State Pension by £1,450. In 2018/19 we will spend £121.5 billion on benefits for pensioners and by 2023/24 this rises to £143.5 billion. In 2012, Parliament voted to modernise the welfare system to ensure that couples, where one person is of working age and the other person is over State Pension age, access support, where it is needed, through the working age benefit regime. This replaces the previous system whereby the household could access either Pension Credit and pension-age Housing Benefit, or working-age benefits. Pension Credit is designed to provide long-term support for pensioner households who are no longer economically active. It is not designed to support working age claimants. This change will ensure that the same work incentives apply to the younger partner as apply to other people of the same age, and taxpayer support is directed where it is needed most. The Government set out to Parliament last year that this change would be implemented once Universal Credit was available nationally for new claims. On 14th January 2019, the Government confirmed that this change will be introduced from 15th May 2019. The change was being brought into effect in Great Britain through a Commencement Order[1] under the Welfare Reform Act 2012. There was an equivalent Order to introduce the change for Northern Ireland. The change will not affect mixed age couples who are entitled to Pension Credit and/or pension age Housing Benefit immediately before the implementation date unless their entitlement to both those benefits subsequently ends. In February 2017, Government published an employer-led Strategy “Fuller Working Lives: A Partnership Approach”, which sets out the importance of Fuller Working Lives for employers and individuals. It also sets out action Government is taking to support older workers to remain in the labour market. Honourable Members can seek the opportunity to debate the issues raised by this commencement order through applying for an adjournment or Backbench Business Committee debate. [1] The Welfare Reform Act 2012 (Commencement No. 31 and Savings and Transitional Provisions and Commencement No. 21 and 23 and Transitional and Transitory Provisions (Amendment)) Order 2019

Pension Credit

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of pensioners that will be affected by the changes to the claiming of pension credit by mixed age couples.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the savings for the public purse that will be made as a result of the changes to the claiming of pension credit by mixed age couples.

Guy Opperman: The Welfare Reform Act 2012 amended entitlement conditions for Pension Credit so as to require both members of a couple to have reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit before the couple can be entitled to it. The change will not affect mixed age couples who are entitled to Pension Credit and/or pension age Housing Benefit immediately before the implementation date unless their entitlement to both those benefits subsequently ends. An estimate of the number of mixed age couples who may be affected by the forthcoming changes to be introduced on 15 May 2019 is set out below: Estimated mixed age couples affected by policy change Year2019/202020/212021/22 15,00030,00040,000  The table below gives estimates of the effects on Annual Managed Expenditure (AME) of the changes to be introduced in May 2019 to the eligibility for Pension Credit and pension-age Housing Benefit of couples where one partner has reached state pension age and the other has not. The estimates relate to couples who are not in receipt of either Pension Credit or pension-age Housing Benefit at the point the changes are introduced. They include no estimate of behavioural effects, for example from job retention or increased saving for retirement. Estimated overall AME savingsYear2019/202020/212021/22 £45m£130m£220m

Hearing Impaired

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the provision of deaf support services to (a) constituents in West Lancashire and (b) people throughout Lancashire by (i) Lancashire County Council, (ii) the NHS, (iii) courts, (iv) local authorities and (v) other public agencies.

Sarah Newton: It is for each Government department and public authority to make adequate provision for deaf support services. Disability in the UK is mainstreamed. This means that whilst I promote disability issues across government, every department is ultimately responsible for considering disability in the development and implementation of its policies and services. For services provided by the Department for Work and Pensions to customers who are deaf or have hearing loss, we provide the following services:Interpretation services such as BSLVideo Relay Service for BSL users claiming certain benefitsVideos with BSL translations on certain topicsTextphone services for customers unable to contact the Department by phoneNext Generation Text for which users require access to a smart deviceEmail as a reasonable adjustment to replace other communication methods

Universal Credit: Fife

Lesley Laird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the roll-out of universal credit in Fife on provision of services for  lone parents and disadvantaged families by (a) local authorities and (b) third sector organisations.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will place in the Library a copy of the results from the Claimant Service and Experience Survey 2017-18 for (a) live service and (b) full service universal credit claimants.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Personal Independence Payment: Blackpool

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the waiting time from registration for personal independence payment to appeal is in Blackpool.

Sarah Newton: Information on the clearance time from registration of a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim to appeal in Blackpool could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Information is available on the median clearance time from a PIP claim being cleared (when a DWP decision maker has determined whether the claimant should or should not be awarded PIP) to an appeal being cleared for people living in Blackpool Local Authority in April to September 2018 and was 53 weeks.

Personal Independence Payment: Blackpool

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independence payment assessments where a claimant had a diagnosis of a mental health disorder have resulted in no award in Blackpool; and how many of those assessments were overturned at a mandatory reconsideration or appeal.

Sarah Newton: Since Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has been introduced, 1,670 people living in Blackpool Local Authority, whose main condition was a psychiatric disorder, have been disallowed after their case was referred to the Assessment Provider. The data the Department holds is up to September 2018. Of the 1,670 cases, 90 decisions resulted in awards being changed at the Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) stage, and 130 at appeal. Since PIP was introduced 3.7m decisions have been made in Great Britain for all health conditions up to September 2018, of these 10% have been appealed and 5% have been overturned. The data has been rounded to the nearest 10. PIP data includes normal rules and special rules for the terminally ill claimants, and covers new claims and DLA reassessment claims. Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer systems. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics. The appeals may include decisions which are changed at MR, and where the claimant continues to appeal for a higher PIP award, are then changed again at tribunal appeal. Claimants who have received benefit decisions more recently may not yet have had time to complete the claimant journey and progress to appeal.

Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has been carried out into (a) the experience that health care professionals carrying out assessments for personal independence payment have of the medical conditions of claimants and (b) other aspects of the suitability of those professionals.

Sarah Newton: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Compensation Recovery Unit

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total sum recovered via the Compensation Recovery Unit was by way of NHS recoupment under (a) the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999, (b) the Health and Personal Social Services Act (Northern Ireland) 2001, (c) the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 and (d) the Recovery of Health Services NHS Charges (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 in the (i) 2016-17 and (ii) 2017-18.

Justin Tomlinson: The DWP Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) does not routinely hold data on the value of NHS recoveries broken down to the level of detail requested. We can however, provide the combined total value of recoveries achieved by way of NHS recoupment for the last two complete financial years under both the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999 and the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003: Financial YearRecoveries Achieved2017/18£199,331,1722016/17£199,779,044The DWP Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) does not hold data on the total sum recovered via the Health and Personal Social Services Act (Northern Ireland) 2001 or the Recovery of Health Services NHS Charges (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. The Northern Ireland Social Security Agency (NISSA) operates primarily to deliver the above legislation and may be able to provide the information requested.

Members: Correspondence

Ruth George: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2019 to Question 204628 on Universal Credit, when he plans to respond to the hon Member for High Peak.

Alok Sharma: I replied to the hon. Member with the answer to Question 204628 on 11 February 2019.

Universal Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that universal credit is paid to the primary caregiver in a household by default.

Justin Tomlinson: As the Secretary of State announced in her speech of 11 January 2019, the Department has listened to concerns about the single payment structure and has committed to look at what more can be done to ensure that the Universal Credit award is paid to the primary carer in a household. At present 59 per cent of Universal Credit payments to households are made into the bank accounts of women, who are often the main carers in their household.

Universal Credit

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her Department's policy to refer claimants of universal credit to foodbanks.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government spends over £90 billion a year on welfare benefits for people of working age, to ensure a strong safety net for those who need it. This includes a well-established system of hardship payments and benefit advances. We have also introduced a range of measures to help put more money in claimant’s pockets quicker, such as removing waiting days and, from July 2020, introducing a new two-week run on for income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance. Jobcentre managers have discretion to work with a wide range of external partners, including food banks, where they are invited to do so. And there are established arrangements in place which allow local staff to signpost a customer to a foodbank where a customer has expressed an interest in using one, but will only do so once they have exhausted all other routes of support.

Universal Credit

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of full service universal credit claimants have had their claims stopped each month due to a zero award.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many full service universal credit claimants have had their claims stopped each month due to a zero award.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of full service universal credit claimants who have had their claims stopped re-apply the following month, in the latest period for which figures are available.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons her Department's policy changed from live service universal credit to full service universal credit to end a claim after one month of zero award.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has conducted an impact assessment on the change in policy from live service universal credit to full service universal credit on the automatic ending of claims after a zero award.

Alok Sharma: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Food

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will consider estalishing a national food policy.

David Rutley: While the immediate priority for the department is planning for No Deal, the Government is committed to publishing a National Food Strategy once we leave the EU.This work is being led by Henry Dimbleby, Defra’s lead Non-Executive Director. He is still in the early scoping stage but we expect it to cover the entire food system, from farm to fork.As the Secretary of State outlined in his letter to Neil Parish on 30 October (https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/environment-food-rural-affairs/correspondence/181030-Secretary-of-State-toChair-Food-strategy.pdf), it will build on the work already underway in the Agriculture Bill, the Environment Bill and the Fisheries Bill, ensuring that our food system delivers healthy and affordable food for all people and is built upon a resilient and sustainable agriculture sector.I expect the role of farming with respect to food security, providing healthy diets, the use of new technology and protecting the environment will be covered.

Food: Production

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of food consumed in the UK is produced domestically.

David Rutley: In 2017, 50% of UK supply was home produced, 30% came from the EU and 20% from the rest of the world.

Horse Racing: Animal Welfare

Mike Hill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will require the British Horseracing Authority to record the numbers of horses that leave horseracing each year.

Mike Hill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with representatives of the British Horseracing Authority on the compilation of information on horses that are sent (a) for breeding, (b) abroad and (c) slaughter after the finish racing.

David Rutley: Defra is keen that the welfare needs of racehorses are well met, both during their racing lives and afterwards. I am in active discussion with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on a range of issues relating to improving the welfare of horses in the industry, including the BHA’s programme of work on the traceability of thoroughbreds post-racing. The BHA works closely with the thoroughbred passport issuing office to record details on animal movement and career outcomes. This data includes broodmare and stallion registrations, and export certificates, to form a picture of post-racing careers. A project within the programme involves the creation of a database to track animal movements throughout their careers, including the movement out of racing, whether that be as a leisure horse, breeding horse, or otherwise. This work will continue in 2019 with the aim of producing a digital model of thoroughbred movements.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Compensation

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide the market value of pedigree cattle by breed used to determine compensation for bovine TB in each month since the scheme began.

George Eustice: We are not able to provide this information for all months since the current scheme began in 2006 as the processing time required would incur disproportionate costs. However, the attached spreadsheet contains details of the pedigree breeds, and average prices paid for cattle, in each month of 2018 which was used to support TB table valuations. Please note the animals were sold at auction market in the previous month to the Compensation Month shown. The prices shown are subsequently rolled over a six month period for the purpose of TB pedigree table valuations.



TB Compensation Table Data
(Excel SpreadSheet, 17.59 KB)

Bovine Tuberculosis: Compensation

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will list the number of pedigree cattle sold in each month since the scheme began that determined the compensation offered to farmers with cows testing positive for TB.

George Eustice: The attached spreadsheet contains the rolling six month numbers of pedigree calved cows, used to support TB table valuations, since the adoption of the current compensation categories in July 2012. Categories included are: Beef sired Pedigree Female 24 - 36 months calvedBeef sired Pedigree Female > 36 months calvedDairy sired Pedigree Female 18 - 36 months calvedDairy sired Pedigree Female 36 - 84 months calvedDairy sired Pedigree Female > 84 months calved Data between 2006 and 2012 is not available in this format. 



TB Compensation Table Data
(Excel SpreadSheet, 11.62 KB)

Meat: Prices

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the price of cattle and sheep products of the UK leaving the EU.

David Rutley: It is in everyone’s interests to secure a good deal with the EU and that is exactly what we are committed to do. The Government recognises the concerns of stakeholders and is determined to get the best deal for the UK in our negotiations to leave the EU, including for our globally recognised beef and sheep sectors. As any responsible government would, we are preparing for all outcomes including the possibility of no deal. Extensive work to prepare for a ‘no deal’ scenario is under way to ensure the country continues to operate as smoothly as possible from the day we leave. We are in close contact with the beef and sheep sectors to understand and anticipate the effects on the sector of the UK leaving the EU without a trade deal. Significant work is already underway to ensure that UK exporters can maintain access to EU markets after March 2019. We are conducting rigorous analysis of the full range of UK-EU trade scenarios on UK agriculture (including the beef and sheep sectors) as part of our planning.

Circuses: Animal Welfare

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to bring wild animals within the scope of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 once the Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012 expire in January 2020.

David Rutley: It remains the Government’s intention to introduce legislation banning the use of wild animals in travelling circuses by the time the Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012 expire in January 2020. Wild animals are already within the scope of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. However, there is an exemption from licensing for those animals already subject to a licence under either the Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012 or the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.

Circuses: Animal Welfare

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to end the use of wild animals in circuses in England; and if he will make a statement.

David Rutley: I refer the honourable member to the answer given to the honourable member for Oxford West and Abingdon to question 176633.https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-10-08/176633/

Slaughterhouses: Animal Welfare

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the number of animals slaughtered without prior stunning in the UK of the UK's recent agreement with Saudi Arabia to lift the ban on lamb exports to that country.

David Rutley: The agreement with Saudi Arabia lifted restrictions on exports which were a legacy of the BSE outbreak in the 1990s. The agreement was not specific to stun or non-stun slaughter. Moreover, a significant proportion of halal meat produced in the UK is stunned before slaughter. Since the market with Saudi Arabia has been opened, no exports of sheep meat to Saudi Arabia have taken place.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of checks to prevent the exportation of toxic electronic waste to developing countries.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Environment Agency takes a pro-active intelligence led approach to ensure it targets those posing a high export risk. Its use of Stop Notices has proved to be an effective tool in prohibiting the movement of waste prior to export. The costs associated with returning a waste shipment that is found to be unfit for export to the site of origin for further treatment can accumulate to be a significant cost to the exporter. Sites loading WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) are targeted for checks and site visits to provide advice and guidance on their responsibilities. In 2017 the Environment Agency inspected over 1,000 shipping containers and returned 367 of these to their site of loading. This stopped over 7,000 tonnes of waste not fit for export at ports, and they also prevented nearly 9,000 tonnes of waste from reaching ports. When concerns have been raised about particular sites in non-EU countries, further information has been requested from the relevant authorities to confirm sites are permitted and regulated according to their national laws.

Hunting

Anneliese Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will review the list of exemptions for hunting with dogs in the Hunting Act 2004 with specific reference to deer hunting.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Department has no plans to review the list of exemptions in the Hunting Act 2004.

Home Office

Drug Seizures

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the volume was of seizures at points of entry of illegal drugs destined for the UK, in each of the last ten years, and what estimate he has made of those seizures as a proportion of the total amount of illegal drugs consumed in the UK in each of the last five years.

Victoria Atkins: Data is publicly available on the volume of drug seizures by the Border Force in the publication https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/seizures-of-drugs-in-england-and-wales-financial-year-ending-2017 - see Summary Table 2 of the data tables provided. The latest statistics for 2017/18 were published on 8th November 2018. This publication captures seizures made in England and Wales only. Consolidated data for the UK is not available for the last ten years, but is available from 2011/12 onwards in the publications. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-force-transparency-data-august-2018Information on the total amount of illegal drugs consumed in the UK in each of the last five years is not held by the Home Office.

Radicalism: Germany

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has made an assessment of possible links between UK-based individuals and far-right extremists within the German (a) Bundeswehr, (b) Kommando Spezialkräfte, (c) Militärische Abschirmdienst and (d) Spezialeinsatzkommando.

Victoria Atkins: The Government takes the threat from international far right extremism seriously and we share the Hon member’s concern about the rise of the far right across Europe, including in the UK. We do not comment on assessments concerning links between UK based individuals and Far Right extremists in foreign security services.

Immigration: France

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many payments have been made to France under Article 7 of the Sandhurst Treaty 2018 under each heading.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action has been taken under Article 8 of the Sandhurst Treaty 2018; and what payments have been made by each of the contracting states in connection with such action.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish details of the joint approach that has been implemented under Article 8 of the Sandhurst Treaty 2018; and if he will place copies of the (a) minutes and (b) other relevant documents relating to that joint approach the Library.

Caroline Nokes: Under Article 7 of the Sandhurst Treaty, the UK committed to support French efforts to return those with no lawful basis of stay on French territo-ry, and to increasing the availability of interpreters. Payments to implement both of these projects have been made over the course of the 18/19 Finan-cial year, and we are forecasting to spend the full package allocated to this work.Under Article 8, the UK has scaled-up existing source-country communication efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa to help reduce irregular migration. Payments to support this work have been made over the course of the 18/19 Financial year.Additionally, the UK and France are working closely as part of the Collabo-ration Against Trafficking and Smuggling project, which aims to tackle irreg-ular migration and organised immigration crime through strengthened man-agement along the Niger/Nigeria border. A preliminary workshop (Lagos, October 2018) brought together representatives from the four programme partners (Nigeria, Niger, France and the UK), as well as a representative from the IOM, during which parties agreed upon potential areas of work to build cross-border collaboration which will inform the full design of the pro-gramme. Planning is underway for the second workshop to be held in Spring 2019.The minutes of meetings relating to projects under Articles 7 and 8 are confidential and to disclose them would risk jeopardizing the trust of an important foreign ally.

Immigration: Surcharges

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of the number of visa applicants who have not received an Immigration Surcharge Number as a result of that number being provided to those applicants' legal representatives and not those applicants directly; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not routinely record the information requested. The Immigration Health Surcharge number is sent to the email address that is provided during the payment process. Customers should ensure that they are receiving information about their application from anybody acting on their behalf, but any customer who requires details of their IHS number can request it via UKVI contact channels.

Crimes of Violence: Young People

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential relationship between school exclusions and youth violence.

Victoria Atkins: The Government’s Serious Violence Strategy, published April 2018, summarises the risk and protective factors for violence identified by research.The Strategy suggests that school exclusion is a marker for increased risk both in terms of victimisation and perpetration. Whilst this does not mean there is a causal link, the Government recognises there are complex and multiple vulnerabilities that can impact on children’s outcomes and is accordingly taking action to address this.The Home Office and Department for Education continue to work together to deliver the commitment in the strategy to consider support for pupils at risk of exclusion as well as for those who have been excluded, to reduce the risk of them being drawn into crime and associated pathways.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) average time is and (b) longest time it has taken for a family subject to No Recourse to Public Funds conditions to achieve settled status.

Caroline Nokes: Within the family migration route an individual and their dependants become eligible to apply for settlement after five years. If the requirements of the Immigration Rules for settlement are not met, then leave can be extended for 30 month periods at a time until they are, otherwise they will qualify after ten years. These periods of leave to remain, including leave granted to parents with children in the UK, will be subject to a no recourse to public funds condition, unless to avoid destitution or there are exceptional financial circumstances.

Immigrants: Children

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children are living in households with parents subject to No Recourse to Public Funds.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not hold the data requested.

Fire and Rescue Services: Retirement

Karen Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effect of Fire and Rescue services choosing to re-engage fire service staff following their retirement on that service’s commitment to equality and diversity.

Mr Nick Hurd: In May 2018, revisions were made to the Fire and Rescue National Frame-work for England to discourage fire and rescue services from re-engaging staff following retirement except in exceptional circumstances when such a decision is necessary in the interests of public safety. Any such appointment must be transparent, justifiable and time limited.No specific assessment has been made of the effect of this practice on equality and diversity, however we have been clear with fire and rescue service leaders that the current lack of diversity amongst firefighters is unacceptable and must be tackled.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Damien Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what support the Government plans to provide to NHS workers applying for EU settled status.

Caroline Nokes: EU citizens make a huge contribution to our economy and society, and we want them to stay. The EU Settlement Scheme enables them to do so. The application process is a streamlined and user-friendly online process which draws on existing government data to minimise any administrative burden on individuals.We are working with a range of partners to ensure that EU citizens have the information and support they need. This includes partners in the health and social care sector. Staff from this sector were involved in the two private betas phases.As the Prime Minister announced on 21 January, having listened to concerns from parliamentarians, campaign groups and the public, the Government will not charge an application fee so that there is no financial barrier for any EU citizens and their non-EU family members who wish to stay.We are committed to supporting EU citizens to obtain UK immigration status and we will continue to engage with representative groups to ensure that user needs are taken into account.

Police: Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers have served in Havering in each year since 2010.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the number of police officers employed by each police force in England and Wales on a bi-annual basis. These figures present a picture of the workforce as at the 31 March and as at 30 September each year. These data are published in the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical publication, which can be accessed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-walesData on the number of police officers are collected at Police Force Area level only, and cannot be broken at local authority/borough level.

Identification of Criminals: Biometrics

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the live facial recognition trial recently undertaken by police forces.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Metropolitan Police Service and South Wales Police are piloting auto-matic facial recognition. The pilots are important to test this technology, which has the potential for improving public safety. Both forces have com-missioned independent reviews of the pilots.

Asylum: Zimbabwe

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date his Department began the practice of using Zimbabwean embassy officials to interview Zimbabwean failed asylum seekers; what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the safety of those individuals of engaging with the Zimbabwean Embassy; what discussions he has had with the Zimbabwean diaspora on this practice; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: In the second half of 2018, the Government, with officials from the Embassy of Zimbabwe, started co-operating on redocumenting Zimbabwean nationals without a right to remain in the UK, including Foreign National Offenders;Re-documentation interviews with officials from countries of return are a standard part of Home Office process where an interview is required by the receiving country to enable the confirmation of nationality and identity, in order for a travel document to be produced.In conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Home Office officials routinely meet with the representatives from the Zimbabwe Diaspora Focus Group (ZDFG). The most recent meeting was in October 2018, at which immigration returns to Zimbabwe was discussed.

Asylum: Housing

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether direct financial support will be provided to local authorities participating in the asylum dispersal scheme.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office are engaging closely with Local Authority Chief Executives on a continuous basis to assess the costs associated with being a dispersal area. As recently outlined in correspondence between Ministers and Local Authorities, it has been agreed that this joint review will be co-designed and co-produced by Local Authorities and the Home Office.

Asylum: Contracts

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there is annual requirement in the Asylum Accommodation and Support Transformation contracts for joint inspections between his Department's contract compliance team and local authorities in existing asylum dispersal areas.

Caroline Nokes: A property inspection and audit process will form part of the Home Office’s contract compliance regime which will ensure that the required performance standards expected of all providers are met.Providers are also required to ensure that the Accommodation for Service Users meets any other statutory housing standards which are applicable in the Specified Contract Region and that licensable Accommodation has been licensed by the Local Authority prior to the property being used to accommodate Service Users and is compliant with the requirements of the LA license whilst the property is used to accommodate Service Users.There is no contractual requirement to jointly inspect properties with local authorities; however as part of current working practices Home Office contract compliance teams have completed joint inspections in some local authority areas and welcome continued collaborative working under the new contract arrangements.

Home Office: Overseas Aid

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2019 to Question 208842 on Home Office: Overseas Aid, what that money was spent on.

Caroline Nokes: Expenditure on Overseas Development Aid from 2015 to 2017 is as follows:• 2015 £222m• 2016 £376m• 2017 £354mThe Home Office’s ODA spend is focused on the following three areas, which contribute to the delivery of the UK’s Aid Strategy:• Support to asylum seekers and the resettlement of vulnerable people in the UK. This helps pay for food, shelter and training for up to 12 months. • Work upstream in ODA countries to build capacity and capability to improve security, protect the vulnerable and tackle modern slavery. • CSSF-funded activity to tackle organised immigration crime through the Organised Immigration Crime Taskforce, and to save lives at sea through the deployment of Border Force vessels in the Mediterranean.

Detainees: Commonwealth

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are currently held in detention centres in the United Kingdom awaiting (a) removal and (b) deportation to Commonwealth countries.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many out-of-country appeals have been made against (a) deportations and (b) removals from the UK to Commonwealth countries in each of the last 10 years.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how people who are awaiting (a) deportation and (b) removal to a Commonwealth country arrived in the UK between the ages of (i) 0-5, (ii) 5-10, (iii) 10-15, (iv) 15-20, and (v) 20-25.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) mean, (b) median, (c) shortest and (d) longest total lengths of stay in the UK to date are of the people awaiting (i) deportation and (ii) removal to a Commonwealth country.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what offences each of the people awaiting deportation to a Commonwealth country have been convicted of.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of people awaiting (a) deportation and (b) removal to a Commonwealth country have children who are UK nationals.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people awaiting (a) deportation and (b) removal to a Commonwealth country served in the UK armed forces.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office does not hold the information requested in a reportable format or within published statistics. This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Windrush Lessons Learned Review

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what changes have been made to immigration policy as a result of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Secretary is absolutely determined to learn from and right the wrongs of the past. That is why an independent lessons learned review, led by Wendy Williams, has been set up to establish what went wrong and how to prevent it happening again.The Independent Adviser aims to publish her findings in a report by spring 2019.The department will consider the recommendations from the Windrush lessons learned review carefully and take appropriate action.

Immigration: Fees and Charges

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of waiving fees for applications for (a) residence and (b) permanent residence cards.

Caroline Nokes: Article 25(2) of the Free Movement Directive (Directive 2004/38/EC) permits member states to charge for residence and permanent residence documentation provided that charge does not exceed that imposed on their own nationals for the issuing of similar documents.The Prime Minister announced on 21 January 2019 that, from 30 March 2019, there will be no fee for applications made under the EU Settlement Scheme. That does not apply to the fees payable for residence or permanent residence documentation issued under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016. The Government has been clear since the 2016 referendum that it is not necessary for EEA nationals to apply for such documents.Those who hold a valid permanent residence document or have existing indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK are already exempt from paying an application fee under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Asylum: Finance

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department undertook a Data protection impact assessment (a) or (b) after the introduction of the Aspen card in asylum support arrangements.

Caroline Nokes: The introduction of Aspen (2016) pre-dates the requirement for a data pro-tection impact assessment (DPIA), which was introduced as part of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Appropriate legal advice was nevertheless obtained prior to the scheme being launched. In line with good practice, a review of current practice is being conducted to ensure that it is compliant with the GDPR, which will include the completion of a DPIA.

Immigration: EEA Nationals

Sandy Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral contribution of 6 February 2019 by the hon. Member for Ipswich, whether the Home Office guidance in respect of the EEA E10 residence card will be altered to allow spouses of British citizens who obtained their E10 card in other EEA countries to benefit from the tenancy of properties in the UK.

Caroline Nokes: Article 10 residence cards issued by other EEA member states help to demonstrate a right of entry into the UK for a third country national family member of an EEA citizen, or the family member of a British citizen who has previously been exercising EU Treaty rights in another EEA member state. However, these cards do not provide conclusive evidence that the person has a right to reside in the UK for the purpose of statutory eligibility checks within the UK, including those conducted by landlords and lettings agents. We will review our guidance to landlords and lettings agents to ensure they have clarity on how to establish the status of prospective tenants in these circumstances.The simplest and most effective way for a non-EEA family member to demonstrate their entitlement to a wide range of services and benefits when they are resident in the UK is to apply for a UK residence card. Once a residence card application is submitted to the Home Office, a landlord or employer can confirm the person’s right to rent or work in the UK by using the Home Office Checking Service, whilst the application is pending; confirmation is provided within two working days enabling landlords or employers to comply with statutory checks required by immigration law.

Human Trafficking and Immigration: France

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding the Government provided to the French Government in 2010 for the purposes of (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other programmes linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity in the Departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding the Government provided to the French Government in 2011 for the purposes of (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity in the Departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding the Government provided to the French Government in 2012 for the purposes of (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime, (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity in the Departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding the Government provided to the French Government in 2013 for the purposes of (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity in the Departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department,  how much funding the Government provided to the French Government in 2014 for the purposes of (a)  border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity in the Departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding the Government provided to the French Government in 2015 for the purposes of (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity in the Departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding the Government provided to the French Government in 2016 for the purposes of (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity in the Departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding the Government provided to the French Government in 2017 for the purposes of (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity in the Departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding the Government provided to the French Government in 2018 for the purposes of (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity in the Departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding the Government has provided to the French Government since 1 January 2019 for the purposes of (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity in the Departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais.

Caroline Nokes: The UK and France have for many years maintained close cooperation at our shared border and have worked to uphold high security standards. The UK has committed various funding packages to the French Government to support this work and uphold these standards.The first payment to support this work was made by the UK to France in September 2014, totalling £14.7 million. These funds were dedicated to security improvements at the port of Calais. In 2015, both countries signed a Joint Declaration which committed £10 million towards security reviews of the juxtaposed controls and to moving migrants into reception centres across France. This was followed by payments in 2016 (£17 million) and 2017 (£36 million) to further strengthen the border and maintain the operation of the juxtaposed controls.Most recently, in January 2018 both countries signed the Sandhurst Treaty, which demonstrates our ongoing commitment to preventing irregular migration, deterring engagement with organised crime groups and people traffickers, and to the continued operation of the juxtaposed controls. As part of this package, the UK made a further commitment of €50 million, of which a significant portion has been dedicated to improving border security infrastructure across Northern France.

Undocumented Migrants

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of migrants entering the UK illegally in each year since 2010.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office works closely with partners in the UK and overseas to strike people smuggling at source – identifying and dismantling the organ-ised crime groups that facilitate illegal immigration. Additionally, the UK works abroad to reduce factors that may push or force people to attempt such journeys - through creating jobs, tackling modern slavery, providing education and delivering life-saving humanitarian assistance in response to conflicts and natural disasters.In November a new UK-France Coordination and Information Centre opened in Calais to strengthen our joint efforts to tackle all kinds of crimi-nality at the border. Border Force is working alongside Police Aux Fron-tieres as part of a 24/7 operation to help prevent illegal attempts to cross the shared border and exchange intelligence between UK and French agencies to combat cross-border criminality.Despite our successes in preventing attempts to enter the UK illegally, we are not complacent. We will continue to work closely with our French coun-terparts to maintain border security and keep legitimate passengers and trade moving.At juxtaposed controls and ports around the country, Border Force officers use some of the most advanced detection technology available to find and stop migrants attempting to reach the UK illegally.We have also invested tens of millions of pounds in new infrastructure to enhance border security, with all freight vehicles entering the UK screened for people being smuggled into the UK using a range of techniques, which include using carbon dioxide detectors and motion sensors as well as sniff-er dogs to detect clandestine on board lorries.We have taken steps to address the possibility that there may be a dis-placement of clandestine migrant activity towards smaller and less fre-quented ports, as enhanced controls at the juxtaposed ports have become increasingly effective.

Undocumented Migrants: Ports

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many migrants entering the UK illegally were detected at port in each year since 2010.

Caroline Nokes: It is not Home Office policy to release internal management information in re-sponse to Parliamentary Questions. All our transparency data can be found on Gov.UK.Specifically, data on clandestine detection that has been published can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/number-of-clandestines-detected-at-the-juxtaposed-controls-and-at-uk-ports-from-2010-to-2014

Undocumented Migrants: Dover Port

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many migrants entering the UK illegally were detected at Port of Dover in each year since 2010.

Caroline Nokes: It is not Home Office policy to release internal management information in response to Parliamentary Questions. All our transparency data can be found on Gov.UK.Specifically, data on clandestine detection that has been published can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/number-of-clandestines-detected-at-the-juxtaposed-controls-and-at-uk-ports-from-2010-to-2014

Dover Port: Human Trafficking and Immigration

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government spent in 2010 for the purposes of (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity at the Port of Dover.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government spent in 2011 for the purposes of (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity at the Port of Dover.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government spent in 2012 for the purposes of (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity at the Port of Dover.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government spent in 2013 for the purposes of (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity at the Port of Dover.

Caroline Nokes: Please see below a Home Office publication link to transparency data from 2010 to 2018 on Home Office spending:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ho-annual-reports-and-accounts

Undocumented Migrants

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many migrants were detected entering the UK illegally in each year from and including 2010 to date.

Caroline Nokes: It is not Home Office policy to release internal management information in response to Parliamentary Questions. All our transparency data can be found on Gov.UK.Specifically, data on clandestine detection that has been published can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/number-of-clandestines-detected-at-the-juxtaposed-controls-and-at-uk-ports-from-2010-to-2014

Dover Port: Human Trafficking and Immigration

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government spent on (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity at the Port of Dover in 2014.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government spent on (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity at the Port of Dover in 2015.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government spent on (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity at the Port of Dover in 2016.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government spent on (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity at the Port of Dover in 2017.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government spent on (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity at the Port of Dover in 2018.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government has spent on (a) border security, (b) border infrastructure, (c) countering organised crime (d) countering people trafficking and (e) any other payments linked to countering migrant and people trafficking activity at the Port of Dover in 2019.

Caroline Nokes: Please see below a Home Office publication link to transparency data from 2010 to financial year 2017/18 on Home Office spending.https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ho-annual-reports-and-accountsData on Home Office spending for the financial year 2018/19 will be available when published in the government release of the annual reports.

Alcoholic Drinks: Minimum Prices

Dr Paul Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol.

Victoria Atkins: The introduction of minimum unit pricing in England remains under review.

Immigration: Applications

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long on average it has taken his Department to determine an application for indefinite leave to remain in each of the last five years.

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to set a minimum response time for the Home Office to determine applications for indefinite leave to remain.

Caroline Nokes: 1.We do not publish this specific data around average waiting times, the pub-lished statistics relating to individuals granted Indefinite Leave to Remain in the United Kingdom are recorded together as part of published Migration Sta-tistics and can be located via the link:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release2.There is no minimum time to determine an application for Indefinite Leave to Remain, however each case type is covered by a maximum waiting time if the case is considered straightforward. If a case is not straightforward we contact the customer by a set point within the process, details of these times can be found via the link:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration/about-our-services

UK-France Migration Committee

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2019 to Question 215158, on what dates and in which locations the UK-France Migration Committee has met.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2019 to Question 215158, what the forward schedule for future meetings of the UK-France Migration Committee; and in which locations will those meetings take place.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to Answer of 6 February 2018 to Question 215158 on UK-France Migration Committee, how much of the Euro 50 million committed under the terms of the Sandhurst Treaty has been paid; and on what date those payment were made.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer  of 6 February 2019 to Question 215158 on UK-France Migration Committee, how much of the Euro 50 million committed under the terms of the Sandhurst Treaty will be paid in the future; and on what dates those payments will be made.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to Answer of 6 February 2019 to Question 215158 on UK-France Migration Committee, how much of the Euro 50 million committed under the terms of the Sandhurst Treaty has not been paid and for which no payment date has been set.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2019 to Question 215158 on UK-France Migration Committee, how much and to which projects payments under the Sandhurst Treaty have been made.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2019 to Question 215158 on UK-France Migration Committee, if he will publish how much monies (a) have been paid for each head of the programme of work and (b) the full package will amount to; how much has been paid to date; on what dates those payments were made; how much is planned to be paid; and on what dates those payments are planned to be made.

Caroline Nokes: The UK-France Migration Committee meets on a bi-monthly basis and is hosted alternately by the UK and French Governments. Going forward, the Committee will continue to meet on this basis. Exact dates are finalised closer to the meetings, to ensure that the relevant senior officials and experts are able to attend.In order to implement the terms of the Sandhurst Treaty, the UK made a commitment of €50 million. This funding package has been allocated to a variety of projects, including improvements to security infrastructure at the northern French ports, cooperation in facilitating returns, improving access to French domestic asylum procedures and ensuring that vulnerable migrants are provided with the support and care that they require. Precise details of these projects cannot be provided for reasons of security.To date, €42.5 million of this package has been committed, and we are on track to allocate the remainder before the end of the 18/19 financial year. Both countries will continue to cooperate closely to prevent illegal migration and to maintain the security of our shared border as well as the operation of the juxtaposed controls.

Asylum: Children

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2019 to Question 215158 on UK-France Migration Committee, what proportion of the £3.6 million allocated to the funding of the development of the Dublin process to support transfers of eligible children to the UK has been made in payments.

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2019 to Question 215158 on UK-France Migration Committee, how many children have been transferred as a result of the £3.6 million allocated to the funding of the development of the Dublin process.

Caroline Nokes: As part of the overall £45.5 million package included in the Sandhurst Treaty to underpin the joint co-operation between the UK and France, we have allocated £3.6 million specifically to fund the development of the Dublin process to support transfers of eligible children to the UK (including training for those working with unaccompanied children, family tracing and targeted information campaigns). This full package of £3.6 million was paid to the French Government at the end of 2018. We continue to work with France to transfer eligible children under section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016 and the Dublin regulation and transfers are ongoing.

Surveillance: English Channel

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been spent on aerial surveillance of the English Channel in (a) each year from 2010 to 2018 and (b) 2019 to date.

Caroline Nokes: It is Home Office policy not to comment on details of the deployment of covert assets or any operational capability or taskings, as to do so would or likely to prejudice national security.Please see below a Home Office publication link to transparency data from 2010 to financial year 2017/2018 on Home Office spending.https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ho-annual-reports-and-accountsBorder Force uses a layered approach to coastal defence, including patrols comprising additional military and law enforcement vessels, on-shore re-sources and intelligence and surveillance to detect efforts to smuggle guns and drugs or facilitate illegal entry into the country.

Surveillance: English Channel

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) days and (b) hours aerial surveillance of the English Channel was conducted in each of the years in each year since 2010.

Caroline Nokes: It is Home Office policy not to comment on details of the deployment of covert assets or any operational capability or taskings, as to do so would or likely to prejudice national security.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his department has made of the number of people who will be registered for settled status in the United Kingdom by (a) 29 March 2019, (b) 31 December 2020 and (c) 30 June 2021, in the event of the UK leaving the EU (i) with a withdrawal agreement and (ii) without a deal.

Caroline Nokes: The 3.5 million EU citizens and their family members resident in the UK are eligible to apply for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme. Following two successful private beta test phases, we commenced the wider public roll-out of the scheme on 21 January. The EU Settlement Scheme will be fully open by 30 March 2019 and EU citizens will have until 30 June 2021 to apply, in line with the draft Withdrawal Agreement.In the event of a no deal, the Prime Minister has already made clear that all EU citizens resident here by 29 March 2019 will be welcome to stay. The deadline for applications will be 31 December 2020 to align with the start of the new UK immigration system.We want all EU citizens and their family members who are eligible to do so, to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. A targeted communications plan is already underway and once the scheme is fully rolled out by 30 March 2019, a full campaign will ensure we reach as many people as possible, both directly and through third parties such as employers and charities. Additionally, up to £9 million of grant funding will also be made available to enable civil society organisations to mobilise services targeted at vulnerable EU citizens and their families to ensure those that require the most support to apply to the scheme can access it.

Home Office: Brexit

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many officials from his Department have been seconded from their primary role to make preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: The department has been continually assessing the resourcing levels required to prepare for Brexit across all possible scenarios, developing contingency plans in line with government policy.It is not possible to provide an answer to the specific question asked. This is because staff are generally engaged across a range of workstreams, which will include business as usual activity as well as Brexit preparations, across both deal and no deal scenarios.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Ellie Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of rolling out the technology used for the EU Settled Status Scheme to other Home Office applications.

Caroline Nokes: The UK’s future skills-based immigration system will make use of the latest digital technology to improve customer experience, increase security and detect abuse. Nearly all applications for individuals seeking to visit, work or study in the UK are now made online. However, under the future system we want to simplify the process further so that all users understand what they need to do and what they are entitled to do.We will continue to explore other new technologies to improve application processes, including, for example the ID verification app developed for the EU Settlement Scheme, and we will learn lessons from its use in the EU Settlement Scheme and consider whether it might be appropriate for use in the future system.

Immigration: EEA Nationals

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled European Temporary Leave to Remain in the UK, published on 28 January 2019, whether his Department plans to publish guidance for employers and applicants on European Temporary Leave to Remain.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled European Temporary Leave to Remain in the UK, published on 28 January 2019, whether dependant family members of EEA nationals obtaining three months leave to remain will each be required to make a separate application for leave to remain.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled European Temporary Leave to Remain in the UK, published on 28 January 2019, what fee his Department plans to charge for an application for European Temporary Right to Remain.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled European Temporary Leave to Remain in the UK, published on 28 January 2019, whether a (a) skills surcharge and (b) health surcharge will apply to people applying for European Temporary Leave to Remain.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to his Department's guidance entitled European Temporary Leave to Remain in the UK, published on 28 January 2019, whether people with European Temporary Leave to Remain will be able to apply  from within the UK for different categories of visa when their 3-year leave expires; which visa categories people will be eligible to apply for after their European Temporary Leave to Remain expires; and whether time spent in the UK with European Temporary Leave to Remain will count towards the residency requirement for people who go on to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office will publish further information about the immigration ar-rangements for those EEA nationals arriving in the UK after the UK’s exit from the EU in the event that there is no deal. This will include guidance on how to apply for European Temporary Leave to Remain and updating the published guidance for employers on right to work checks.Dependant family members of EEA nationals will be required to make sepa-rate applications for European Temporary Leave to Remain.Information about the application fee will be made available in due course. Applications for European Temporary Leave to Remain will not be subject to payment of the Skills Charge. Subject to Parliamentary approval, appli-cants will not be required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.European Temporary Leave to Remain is permission to stay for 36 months and cannot be extended. Those who wish to stay for longer will need to ap-ply and qualify under the terms of the UK’s new skills-based immigration system, which will begin from 1 January 2021. The shape of the future sys-tem is the subject of extensive engagement over the next 12 months with a range of stakeholders before final policy decisions are made.

Visas: Migrant Workers

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criteria his Department uses to define low risk countries for participation in the 12 month short-term work visa proposed in the immigration White Paper published on 19th December 2018, The UK's Future Skills-Based Immigration System; and when his Department plans to publish a list of those countries.

Caroline Nokes: To determine low-risk countries as set out in the UK’s Future Skills-Based Immigration System White Paper, the Home Office will consider a range of relevant factors such as returns agreements, reciprocal mobility agree-ments, cooperation on border security and prosperity. These measures and the countries concerned will be reviewed regularly, and further information will be provided in due course.

Compass Contracts: Standards

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was levied in respect of service credits in each key performance indicator designated met in each Compass asylum accommodation region in 2018-19.

Caroline Nokes: The Home Office has a rigorous contract compliance regime in place to ensure that the required performance standards expected of all providers, as defined in the contracts, are met. Where there is any instance of non-conformance the performance indicators are applied which may lead to a financial deduction from monthly invoices. The Home Office does not publish data on the value of service credit that have been accrued on the asylum accommodation contracts.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Trade Agreements

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the poverty levels of countries traded with under the Everything But Arms Agreement.

Harriett Baldwin: The Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Act enables the UK to put in place a UK trade preferences scheme for developing countries. The UK trade preference scheme will provide the same level of access as the current EU trade preference scheme by granting duty-free, quota-free access to the 48 Least Developed Countries covered by the Everything But Arms tier.The way to end poverty and aid dependency is through inclusive economic growth, jobs, investment and trade. Unilateral preferences, including those provided through the Everything But Arms tier, are part of the UK’s wider efforts to reduce poverty. By providing access into a larger market, preferences support job creation and entrepreneurship within developing economies. They play a vital part in supporting the UK’s global poverty reduction efforts. At the same time, they can provide access to cheaper products for UK businesses and consumers.

Scotland Office

Cold Weather Payments: Scotland

David Duguid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what progress has been made in the devolution of cold weather payments to the Scottish Government.

David Mundell: The Scottish Parliament have had legislative competence for cold weather payments since May 2017. DWP’s responsibility for cold weather payments in Scotland will transfer to Scottish Ministers from April 2020. We are awaiting details of how the Scottish Government intend to deliver their new scheme.

Cabinet Office

Life Expectancy

Grahame Morris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the healthy life expectancy is for people living in (a) Easington constituency, (b) County Durham and (c) England.

Chloe Smith: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 31 January 2019.The correct answer should have been:

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.


UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 66.76 KB)




UKSA Final Response
(PDF Document, 81.32 KB)

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.


UKSA Response
(PDF Document, 66.76 KB)




UKSA Final Response
(PDF Document, 81.32 KB)

Cabinet Office: Facebook

Stella Creasy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2019 to Question  216324 on Department for Exiting the European Union: Facebook, what the (a) age profile, (b) gender and (c) location was of custom audiences that were targeted by the 10 Downing Street Facebook page since 21 November 2017.

Chloe Smith: No Facebook advertising has been run from the 10 Downing Street Facebook page since 21 November 2017 so no custom audiences have been targeted in this time.

Treasury

Taxation: Electronic Government

Alex Sobel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of delaying the introduction of Making Tax Digital.

Mel Stride: The Making Tax Digital (MTD) VAT pilot service is already open to all businesses that will operate MTD from 1 April. Businesses and accountants are making preparations for the introduction of MTD, and thousands have already joined the pilot on a voluntary basis to test the service before they are mandated to use it. Most businesses will not need to submit their first VAT return through the new service until August at the earliest. Recognising the transitional issues that may arise, for the first year penalties will not be issued for late filing, only for late payment. HMRC is writing directly to all businesses affected by MTD and will continue to increase communications activity in the lead up to April through a number of channels. In October, the Government announced a 6 month delay for those customers with the most complex requirements, to ensure there is sufficient time for testing the service with them in the pilot before they are mandated to join from 1 October 2019.

Pensions: EU Countries

Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts during negotiations on the UK leaving the EU on the maintenance of European pensions in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

Elizabeth Truss: The Government is committed to getting a good deal for the UK, and we have agreed a fair financial settlement with the EU. We have always been clear that the UK has obligations to the EU, and the EU obligations to the UK, that will survive the UK’s withdrawal, and that these would need to be resolved.

Funerals: Pre-payment

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of implementing transition arrangements in the event that the Financial Conduct Authority becomes responsible for the pre-paid funeral plan market.

John Glen: HM Treasury has analysed the submissions to the call for evidence on pre-paid funeral plans and is currently reviewing the available policy options.This includes considering transitional arrangements to any new regulatory framework. The response to the call for evidence will be published in due course.

Mortgages: Islam

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the availability of Sharia-compliant home purchase plans.

John Glen: The Government is committed to the availability of Islamic finance in the UK to ensure that no one is denied access to competitive financial products for reasons of faith. We are doing this by working to ensure that Sharia-compliant financial products can be supplied on the same terms and at the same standard as conventional financial products. The UK is already the western leader in Islamic finance, however we continue to explore areas where Islamic finance can be developed further. Home purchase plans are enabled by regulations overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the independent regulator set up by the Government to ensure consumers are receive appropriate protection. Beyond the requirements set out in the FCA regulations, decisions around the pricing and availability of individual mortgage loans remain commercial decisions for lenders, and the Government does not seek to intervene in these decisions.

Taxation: Fraud

Ms Harriet Harman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the level of fraud in (a) VAT, (b) customs duty and (c) excise duties at the United Kingdom border in each of the last five years.

Mel Stride: The information requested is not held. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estimates the tax gap, which will encompass fraud, for VAT, excise duties and customs duty – the latter is contained within the Department’s estimates of ‘other taxes’. However, it is not possible to subdivide these tax gap estimates into fraud that occurs at the United Kingdom border and fraud that occurs elsewhere. Tax gap estimates for VAT, excise duties and other taxes for tax years 2005-06 to 2016-17 are available in chapters 2, 3 and 6, respectively, of HMRC’s publication Measuring Tax Gaps 2018. This report is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/measuring-tax-gaps.

Royal Bank of Scotland: Asset Protection Agency

Martin Whitfield: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who authorised the Commissioners to approve the Asset Protection Agency’s agreement with RBS on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government.

Martin Whitfield: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the legal agreement dated 26 November 2009 between the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Asset Protection Agency.

John Glen: The Asset Protection Agency (APA) was set up in 2009 to manage the Asset Protection Scheme (APS), with the objective of maintaining financial stability and protecting taxpayers’ interests by ensuring participating banks managed their exposure to high-risk assets responsibly. The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) signed an ‘Accession Agreement’ to the APS dated 26 November 2009. This agreement remains in the private domain, but the broad parameters are publicly available here: https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/uk/rbs1/rns1/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=365&newsid=235063. RBS’s participation in the APS was approved by Ministers in HM Treasury at the time.

Non-domestic Rates: Public Houses

Danielle Rowley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of altering business rates to support local pubs.

Mel Stride: The UK Government has introduced wide-ranging cuts to business rates benefitting all ratepayers in England that are worth more than £13bn over the next five years. They include a £1,000 discount for small and medium pubs in 2017-18 and 2018-19, and a retail discount of one third for two years from April 2019, for which pubs will be eligible. The pubs sector will also benefit from the Budget 2018 freeze on beer duty. As business rates are devolved, business rates policy in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Government. The UK Government is providing Barnett consequential funding so the Devolved Administrations may provide similar support if they wish.

Minimum Wage: Non-payment

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff in HMRC are allocated to investigating non-payment of the minimum wage.

Mel Stride: The government is determined that everyone who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) receives it. If anyone thinks they are not receiving at least the minimum wage, they can contact Acas, in confidence, on 0300 123 1100 or submit a query online using the link https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pay-and-work-rights-complaints The government increased NMW enforcement funding from £20 million per annum in 2016/17, to £26.3m in 2018-19. This additional investment enabled a significant expansion of resources dedicated to enforcing the minimum wage: there were 424 staff in post in HMRC’s NMW teams as at 31 March 2018. In addition, other staff across HMRC contribute to enforcing NMW, including lawyers, technical advisers, and those specialising in criminal investigations. HMRC does not record the specific numbers of those staff involved beyond those identified above.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Social Media: Information Warfare

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January to Written Question 908935 on Social Media: Information Warfare, which organisations from (a) the tech industry (b) civil society and (c) academia his Department has held discussions with on disinformation on social media.

Margot James: Details of ministerial meetings are published as part of government transparency data. However, we do meet regularly with a range of stakeholders to discuss disinformation. Full details about such meetings, including minutes are kept confidential, to allow full and frank discussions between parties.

Social Media: Information Warfare

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January to Written Question 908935 on Social Media: Information Warfare, what assessment has his Department has made of the effect of disinformation on social media on the efficacy of political elections.

Margot James: Maintaining a free, open and accessible media is a long-term priority for the UK and the Government will continue to work to constrain the effects of disinformation through all mediums. The Government itself is not directly responsible for overseeing the integrity of conduct of elections, and rightly not, but we continue to work with the Electoral Commission to strengthen and secure our democratic processes.

Social Media: Information Warfare

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January to Written Question 908935 on Social Media: Information Warfare, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of disinformation on social media on the efficacy of news reporting.

Margot James: The Internet has greatly enhanced the public’s access to news and political engagement, but it has also created unforeseen challenges to the accuracy of information. Government is committed to maintaining a news environment, both online and offline, where accurate content can prevail and high-quality media has a sustainable future. The Cairncross Review into press sustainability was published on 12th February 2019 and considered the roles of tech platforms, digital advertising, media literacy and subsidisation. The Government will now assess Dame Frances' recommendations and respond later in 2019.

Youth Services: Closures

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of the number of youth centres that have closed in each year since 2010 in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) the UK.

Mims Davies: Local Authorities are not required to collect this data and we do not keep the data centrally. Given the contribution of community and uniform youth groups, data on local authority run youth clubs would not give the full picture of provision available to young people. Alongside this, we are investing significantly in youth organisations in a number of ways including:* Over 1bn funding available for NCS over this Spending Review period. NCS is delivered via a supply chain network of over 100 organisations, many of which are youth organisations, allowing this funding to benefit communities at a local level;* Up to £80 million (in partnership with Big Lottery Fund) through the Youth Investment and #iwill funds in voluntary and community organisations that work with young people;* The £2m Building Connections Fund, in partnership with the Co-op Foundation, which is available to youth organisations helping to support young people to avoid long-term loneliness; and* We have invested over £750,000 in various youth voice activities, such as UK Youth Parliament, the Make Your Mark youth ballot and groups to involve young people in national policy design.

Commonwealth Games 2022

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether all (a) directly employed staff and (b) contracted workers for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 will be paid the Real Living Wage; and if the Organising Committee for the games will accredit as a Living Wage Employer with the Living Wage Foundation.

Mims Davies: The Birmingham Organising Committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games Ltd (known as the OC) is now established in Birmingham. All staff directly employed by the OC are paid at least the 2018 voluntary Living Wage. The OC will be primarily responsible for procuring goods and services for the Games. We are working with the Organising Committee and our other Games Partners to agree the appropriate contractor policies and pay. Consideration of accreditation as a Living Wage Employer will form part of this work.

Charities: Registration

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the reasons behind the rise in the number of small charities leaving the Charity Commission's register in 2018; and if he will make a statement.

Mims Davies: The Charity Commission for England and Wales has confirmed that for the past three years a total of 12,708 charities with a declared income of less than £1.5M have been removed from the Register of Charities YearCharities removed: income less than £1.5M20163,85620174,06920184,783  One reason for the increased number of charities coming off the register of charities in 2018 is that the Charity Commission undertook a proactive exercise to remove charities that no longer appeared to be in operation.   Overall, the number of registered charities has grown in the last ten years from 160,500 in 2009 to 168,200 in 2019. Applications for registration as a charity have increased by 40% in the past 5 years, reaching a record high of 8,375 applications in 2017-18.

Music: Licensed Premises

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on tax concessions for small music venues.

Margot James: Ministers have regular discussions with their Cabinet colleagues on a range of matters, including supporting music venues.

House of Commons Commission

House of Commons: Security

Dr David Drew: To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reasons the terms, conditions and rates of overtime pay of House of Commons security staff have been altered.

Tom Brake: Holding answer received on 11 February 2019



The terms and conditions and rates of overtime pay for House of Commons security staff have not been altered.Approximately 55% of security staff in the Parliamentary Security Department, are former employees of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and transferred to the House Service on 1 April 2016. Their MPS terms and conditions are honoured under the Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE). New recruits are employed on House of Commons terms and conditions which differ in a number of ways including the rates of overtime paid. The overall value of these terms is broadly equivalent to the MPS TUPE terms.In late 2016, an error was identified in the contracts for a small number of staff employed on House of Commons terms which resulted in overtime being paid at an incorrect rate. Affected staff were informed of the error and given a notice period for a variation to their contracts during which they were paid at the higher rate. Any overtime paid during the relevant period (between date of appointment and date of variation to contract) was paid at the higher rate and not recovered. This issue was also heard at an Employment Tribunal which ruled in favour of the House.The unions have asked us to consider changes to overtime rates for those staff on House of Commons contracts which we will consider as part of pay negotiations for 2019/20.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Office: Brexit

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many officials from her Department have been seconded from their primary role to make preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and if she will make a statement.

John Penrose: EU exit affects a number of work areas across the Department and will therefore encompass a proportion of workload for many staff, the amount of which will vary over time. The Department has restructured its approach to the way it handles EU exit work, moving from a central EU exit co-ordinating team of 7 to a position in which core EU exit work is distributed more widely across the whole department. No officials have been seconded in the way this question asks.